Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, has said that years ago she shot and killed her 14‑month‑old dog, a wirehaired pointer named Cricket, after the dog behaved aggressively and killed a neighbor’s chickens.

Quick Scoop: What Happened

According to Noem’s own account in her 2024 political memoir, Cricket was being trained as a hunting dog but was, in her words, “untrainable” and “dangerous.” During a pheasant hunt, the dog ruined the outing, then later escaped, attacked and killed multiple chickens belonging to a local family, and tried to bite Noem when she intervened.

Noem writes that after apologizing to the neighbors and compensating them, she decided the dog needed to be put down. She says she led Cricket to a gravel pit and shot her there, describing it as an unpleasant task but, in her view, necessary.

The same day, she also decided to shoot a family goat she described as “nasty,” “mean,” and prone to chasing and knocking over her young children; the goat did not die instantly and she had to shoot it a second time.

How She Defends It Now

In later TV interviews after the book excerpt went public in spring 2024, Noem has defended her actions as a matter of safety and responsibility on a farm. She argues that:

  • Cricket had already been given multiple chances as a working dog.
  • The dog had just destroyed neighbors’ livestock and “attacked” her.
  • She chose “the safety of [her] children” and community over keeping a dangerous animal.
  • She says state law allows euthanizing dogs that attack and kill livestock.

Why It Became a Big Story

This story became a major trending topic and political controversy in 2024 because:

  • Noem chose to include the episode, in graphic, blunt terms, in a campaign‑style book while being discussed as a possible running mate for Donald Trump.
  • Many people, including animal‑welfare advocates and dog trainers, criticized the killing as unnecessary and cruel, arguing that no dog is truly “untrainable” and that humane options or professional help should have been pursued.
  • The tone of lines like “I hated that dog” in her own retelling intensified public backlash and late‑night jokes, turning it into a viral “puppy‑killing” scandal.

Key Facts in Brief

  • Dog’s name and age: Cricket, ~14 months old.
  • Breed: Wirehaired pointer (a hunting breed).
  • Noem’s claims about behavior: Ruined a hunt, killed neighbors’ chickens, tried to bite her, “dangerous” and “untrainable.”
  • What she did: Took Cricket to a gravel pit and shot her; also shot a goat the same day.
  • Ongoing angle: She continues to publicly defend the decision as tough but necessary; critics frame it as animal cruelty and poor judgment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.