Noem says she shot ‘extremely dangerous’ dog to protect her children

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican under investigation this week for allegedly killing her dog, defended her actions Wednesday, saying she shot the “dangerous” puppy to protect her children. .

“He was a very dangerous dog,” Noem said. Said “Hannity” on Fox News Wednesday. “We were approached by her family who felt her methods were too aggressive.”

“We were her second chance. And she was — the day she was killed was the day she slaughtered her neighbor’s livestock,” she continued. “She attacked me. And it was a difficult decision.”

Noem added, “I had to choose between keeping my young children and others safe and protecting a dangerous animal, and I chose the safety of my children.” .

Her latest comments come as she faces intense scrutiny over anecdotes in her upcoming book, which were revealed after The Guardian received an advance copy. In response to the report, Democratic governors mocked Nomu on social media, posting a caption that read, “Please don’t shoot your dog or throw it in a gravel pit. Please post a photo of yourself with your dog.” I posted a photo with.

According to an excerpt from the book, the Mount Rushmore governor took a 14-month-old wire-haired pointer dog named Cricket to a gravel pit on his property and shot him dead, saying it was “not a fun job.” It is said that he wrote it. “But it had to be done.

Noem was once seen as a front-runner to become former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate in November, but her chances of securing the vice presidential seat are now likely doomed. This anecdote, combined with other controversies, has left many Republicans scratching their heads and questioning her chances.

Her anecdote even drew parallels to a story from a decade ago about Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). During his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney faced backlash for allegedly tying a dog to the roof of his car during a family vacation.

The senator said earlier this week, “I didn’t eat the dog. I didn’t eat the dog. I didn’t shoot the dog. I loved the dog and the dog loved me. Ta.”

Noem has also doubled down on her decision in recent days.

“I can understand why some people would be offended by the 20-year-old story of Cricket, one of the ranch’s working dogs, that appears in my upcoming book, No Going Back,” she wrote on Sunday. wrote. on social platform. “This book is full of honest stories about my life, the good days, the bad days, the challenges, the tough decisions, and the lessons I learned.”