You probably saw the headlines. Maybe you saw the memes of a frantic-looking puppy or the Late Night clips of hosts looking genuinely baffled. It’s one of those stories that somehow managed to unify a divided country—just not in the way anyone expected. When South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem decided to include a story about Kristi Noem killing dogs in her memoir, No Going Back, she thought she was showing off her grit. She wanted to prove she was "tough."
Instead, she basically tanked her chances at the vice presidency.
The story is about a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket. Now, if you’ve ever met a 14-month-old pointer, you know they are basically chaotic energy in a fur coat. They aren’t "adults" yet. They’re teenage athletes with no impulse control. But in Noem’s eyes, Cricket wasn't just a handful. She was "less than worthless."
The Day at the Gravel Pit
It all started on a pheasant hunt. Noem took Cricket out with some older, more experienced dogs, hoping the pup would learn the ropes. It didn’t go well. Cricket was too excited. She was "out of her mind," chasing birds and generally ruining the hunt for everyone else. Honestly, that sounds like every untrained bird dog puppy ever, but Noem wasn't having it.
On the way home, things got worse. Noem stopped to talk to a local family, and Cricket escaped from the truck. She ended up in the family’s chicken coop. According to Noem’s own account, the dog was like a "trained assassin," killing several chickens before Noem could stop her. When she finally grabbed Cricket, the dog allegedly "whipped around to bite" her.
That was the breaking point.
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Noem wrote that she "hated that dog." She didn't think about a trainer. She didn't look for a new home with no chickens. She got her gun. She led Cricket to a gravel pit on the property and shot her.
It Wasn't Just the Dog
Most people focus on the puppy, but the story actually gets weirder and, frankly, a bit more grim. After shooting Cricket, Noem realized she had another "unpleasant job" to do. Her family owned a male goat that she described as "nasty and mean." It hadn't been castrated, it smelled "disgusting," and it liked to chase her kids.
So, she dragged the goat to the same gravel pit.
The first shot didn't kill it. The goat jumped, survived the wound, and Noem had to walk back to her truck to get more shells while the animal was still alive and suffering. She eventually finished the job, all while a construction crew nearby watched the whole thing happen. Talk about an awkward day at work for those guys.
Why the Backlash Was Bipartisan
Usually, when a politician does something controversial, one side of the aisle defends them. Not this time. The reaction to Kristi Noem killing dogs was a rare moment of national agreement.
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- Animal welfare groups like PETA and the American Kennel Club were obviously horrified.
- Conservative commentators like Tomi Lahren and the popular X account "Catturd" slammed her, arguing that shooting a puppy for "acting like a puppy" isn't "farm life"—it's just bad ownership.
- Hunters weighed in too. Experts pointed out that taking a 14-month-old dog on a hunt with older dogs is a recipe for disaster. It’s not the dog’s fault; it’s a training failure.
Noem tried to defend herself by saying this is just "life on a ranch." She claimed she was being a "responsible parent" and protecting her kids from a dangerous animal. But the "danger" part didn't really stick for most people, considering she described the dog as "the picture of pure joy" right before she decided to kill it.
The Political Fallout and Legal Questions
Was it legal? Probably. South Dakota law is pretty old-school when it comes to livestock. There is a statute (40-34-1) that says it’s lawful to kill a dog that is "chasing, worrying, or killing" poultry.
However, legal experts have pointed out that the dog wasn't currently killing chickens when she shot it in the gravel pit. That makes it a bit of a gray area. But since the incident happened about 20 years ago, the statute of limitations has long since passed. The South Dakota Attorney General basically said his office has no jurisdiction over a two-decade-old story.
Politically, though? The damage was done. Before this book came out, Noem was on every shortlist to be Donald Trump's running mate. After the "Cricket" story broke, her polling numbers took a nose-dive. It’s hard to run a "family values" campaign when the most famous thing about you is that you shot the family puppy because you were frustrated with its behavior.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Noem was forced into this. She wasn't. She didn't have to include this story in her book. She chose to. She thought it would make her look like someone who doesn't shy away from "difficult, messy, and ugly" tasks.
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She miscalculated how much Americans love their dogs.
Even in rural areas, shooting a healthy, young dog because it’s "untrainable" is rarely the first option. There are rescues, rehoming groups, and specialized trainers for "high-drive" dogs like wirehaired pointers.
Actionable Takeaways from the Controversy
If you find yourself with a "difficult" animal or are trying to understand the fallout of this story, here’s the reality:
- Training is a Marathon: Bird dogs like pointers aren't fully mature until they are 2 or 3 years old. Expecting a 14-month-old to be a perfect hunter is like expecting a toddler to run a marathon.
- Rehoming is an Option: If an animal is genuinely a bad fit for a farm or a home with kids, breed-specific rescues exist for exactly this reason.
- Know the Laws: While "ranch rules" exist in some states, animal cruelty laws have evolved significantly in the last 20 years.
- Vet the Source: When politicians talk about "tough decisions," look at whether the decision was actually necessary or just the path of least resistance.
The story of Cricket isn't really about "farm life." It’s a case study in how a specific type of political branding—the "tough pioneer" persona—can backfire when it crosses the line into what most people see as unnecessary cruelty.
Instead of looking like a leader, Noem ended up looking like someone who lacked the patience to handle a young dog’s energy. Whether she can ever move past the image of the "gravel pit" remains to be seen, but for now, it's the defining chapter of her career.
If you're dealing with a high-energy breed, the best move is to consult with a professional trainer who uses positive reinforcement or reach out to a specialized rescue group before making any permanent decisions.