It was a story that lit up the internet. In excerpts released by The Guardian of Kristi Noem’s upcoming book "No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward," the South Dakota governor recounted how she shot her dog, 14-month-old Cricket, 20 years ago because he was aggressive, had bitten people, and was a bad hunting dog.

Opinions flew fast and furious on social media, with many claiming she was a disgrace, while other people from ranching and/or rural areas argued that putting down livestock was simply something you have to deal with in their world.

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Noem heard all the chatter, and on Sunday, she defiantly responded on social media and said she did what she had to do.

I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back. The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons…

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 28, 2024

The tweet continues:

What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges. My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can for the people in my life. 

She went on to defend her conduct as legal, and also necessary: 

The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did. 

Hard decisions are just that, hard, she explained.

Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor. As I explained in the book, it wasn't easy. But often the easy way isn't the right way.

I love dogs: I’ve reared six, hunted quail with them, and played with them. But it is true that pet owners and livestock handlers face tough decisions.

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On a personal note, I was faced with a difficult decision when we got a dog from an adoption event years ago—we'd brought him home first to make sure he got along with the other doggies—all seemed well. Within a day, though, we realized he was the most high-energy dog on the planet (we’re 90 percent sure he was part whippet), he was big, and he was exceptionally athletic. 

They had drugged him to fool us. 

The guy was an absolute menace—a Tasmanian Devil. I took him to the park every day with one of those things that helps you throw a tennis ball for miles and would spend hours just tryigng to exhaust him. He was completely untrainable and we even called a specialist who gave up. But I kept trying—for months. 

Until, that, is, he went after one of my then-toddler daughters. If I'd been living on a farm and had no other solution, I'd have had to take him down myself. But I'm in the city, so took him back, knowing full well that he might not make it. My heart hurt, but I knew that I had given it my all, and there was no way in hell I was going to be the star of one of those newspaper stories where a kid is severely injured or worse by a dangerous pooch. Tough decision. But I've never once felt I made the wrong one. My family comes first.

That is not to say I endorse Noem for what she did; I don’t know the particulars of her situation. Perhaps she could have worded things more softly—then again, others would argue that doing so would deny the reality.

What is clear, however, is that this story will continue to provoke impassioned debate. It is also clear that Noem is not backing down.

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