South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will headline a fundraising dinner for the Jefferson County Republican Party on Saturday despite backlash over a section in her soon-to-be-released book where she describes killing her dog over behavioral problems.
The anecdote from Noem’s new book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” was first reported last week by The Guardian.
Noem took her 14-month-old wirehaird pointer, Cricket, on a hunting trip with older dogs to try to calm the dog down, according to the Associated Press.
But when Cricket killed some chickens during a stop on the return trip and tried to bite Noem, Noem took Cricket to a gravel pit and killed her.
The incident took place 20 years ago, but Noem’s retelling sparked criticism from Republicans, Democrats and dog experts alike, the Associated Press reported.
Noem addressed the backlash in a post on social media site X, stating the decision was difficult but she has “never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle.”
Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 and “is on President Trump’s short list for Vice President,” organizers wrote on an event page.
The $150-per-person fundraiser is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott Denver West in Golden.
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