Warning: Depictions of violence against animals.
South Dakota governor and likely contender for Donald Trump's Vice President Kristi Noem has faced criticism for admitting she killed her family dog.
Yes, Noem somehow thought it would be a good idea to include the anecdote in her upcoming memoir, which has been obtained by the Guardian. She reportedly writes of shooting her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket, which is used as a metaphor for how she can handle the “difficult, messy, and ugly” parts of politics.
Poor Cricket's crimes? Going "out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds, and having the time of her life" during a pheasant hunt. Noem subsequently tried to call Cricket and use an electric collar, but neither worked. On the way home, Cricket escaped from Noem's truck and proceeded to kill a local family's chickens.
“I hated that dog,” Noem reportedly wrote, calling the dog that was not yet an adult "untrainable," "dangerous to anyone she came in contact with," and "less than worthless…as a hunting dog." She then shot Cricket at a gravel pit. Her daughter was apparently later confused as to the whereabouts of the dog.
But that's not all! Noem also reportedly wrote of trying to kill a “nasty and mean” goat in the same way, only for the goat to survive the initial gunshot (alas, the goat did not survive the second).
