South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) stressed her affection for dogs on Monday, as she sought to defend herself against an onslaught of criticism and mockery over the revelation in a new book that many years ago, she shot an ill-behaved 14-month-old puppy.
In a Monday interview on “CBS Mornings,” Noem pressed on with the media tour for her new book “No Going Back,” which will be released on Tuesday.
“This was a dog that, I was its second chance. It had come to me from a family that had found her to be way too aggressive. I was a dog trainer, raised dogs,” she said in the interview.
“Oh, I love dogs,” Noem added, when asked. “Yeah, I have a dear dog named Foster right now that goes everywhere with me.”
The governor stressed that the decision to shoot Cricket, the aggressive hunting dog, was difficult for her. She also said the anecdote had been known among close political circles and she did not want it to be used against her down the road.
For months, Noem has been seen as a top contender for former President Trump’s 2024 running mate, but some pundits have speculated that the overwhelming backlash to the puppy story could have derailed her chances.