South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem Says She Killed Her Own Dog Because She Was ‘Untrainable’

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) confessed to killing her 14-month-old dog and goat in her new book, No Going Back. Noem described a moment on her farm when she felt she had to shoot her female dog Cricket because she was “less than worthless” and “untrainable.”

“It was not a pleasant job, but it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done,” her book detailed.

Noem explained that Cricket, who intended to be a hunting dog, ruined a pheasant hunt by going “out of her mind, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life.” Cricket also allegedly ate several of Noem’s chickens on the farm.

Noem led the dog to a gravel pit with her gun and fatally shot the dog. Afterward, Noem decided she also had to kill the family goat, who was “nasty and mean.” It took two gunshots to kill the goat.

Social media users were disturbed and horrified by Noem’s story. In defense of her actions, Noem wrote on X, “We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years.”

Conservative influencers The Hodge Twins replied to Noem’s post saying, “Telling everybody you shot your dog and promoting your book at the same time? wtf, this is wild.”

Other pro-Trump X users also criticized Noem’s book.

“Omg – now my blood is boiling,” one wrote. “Remember, I’m a country boy who lives on a ranch. There’s a huge difference between putting an old horse down who is suffering, than shooting a 18 month dog for being untrainable.”

Noem was considered a potential vice president pick for the upcoming November election. With the new controversy around her book, many, including fellow Republicans, felt that she had committed “political suicide.” Noem’s book is set to be released on May 7.

As of April, four Native American tribes have banned Noem from their land after Noem made comments connecting tribal leaders to Mexican cartels. Noem is now barred from 15% of the state.

She was recently criticized for promoting a Texas dental clinic where she had her teeth done on social media.