'I hated that dog': Potential Trump running mate under fire after relating why she shot pup

Potential Donald Trump vice presidential running mate Kristi Noem is under sharp criticism for reportedly recounting in a book how she killed a family dog.

The South Dakota governor has written a book, "No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward," which comes out in May.

The Guardian has published excerpts from the book in which Noem claims she shot the canine, Cricket, after concluding the dog was “untrainable,” “dangerous to anyone she came in contact with” and “less than worthless … as a hunting dog,” according to quotes offered by The Guardian.

“I hated that dog,” Noem writes, according to the excerpt cited by the publication.

The citations quoted by The Guardian drew intense push back and scathing rebukes from animal welfare organizations.

"Most Americans love their dogs, and we suspect that they will consider Gov. Noem a psychotic loony for letting this rambunctious puppy loose on chickens and then punishing her by deciding to personally blow her brains out rather than attempting to train her or find a more responsible guardian who would provide her with a proper home," wrote Colleen O’Brien, senior director at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA. "Gov. Noem obviously fails to understand the vital political concepts of education, cooperation, compromise, and compassion."

What Noem wrote about shooting dog in book excerpts

The Guardian also cited Noem complaining the dog behaved “like a trained assassin” and described how the governor eventually put her in a gravel pit and shot her after an incident in which the dog attacked a local family’s chickens.

“It was not a pleasant job,” The Guardian quoted Noem as writing in the book about her decision to kill the dog. “But it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done."

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Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, said Noem's actions have "no rational or plausible" explanation.

“There’s no rational and plausible excuse for Noem shooting a juvenile dog for normal puppy-like behavior. If she is unable to handle an animal, ask a family member or a neighbor to help," Pacelle said in a statement.

"If training and socializing the dog doesn’t work, then give the dog to a more caring family or to a shelter for adoption. Raising and caring for a dog takes patience and kindness. Tens of millions of Americans who know and love dogs have to wonder about a person who expresses hatred for a young female dog and kills her."

Noem has been widely speculated as a possible running mate for Trump, as has been Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The former president and 2024 GOP presumptive nominee has not commented on the controversy through his social media account.

His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is a rescue dog advocate who has chaired fundraising events for Big Dog Rescue in Palm Beach County. She also vocally supported a campaign to end greyhound racing in Florida. She now serves as vice chair of the Republican National Committee.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Potential Trump running mate Kristi Noem under fire for killing dog