Full Breakdown
Kristi Noem’s Puppy-Killing Memoir Fuels Bipartisan Political Firestorm
5/13/2026, 10:39:55 PM
Memoir Disclosure and Social-Media Response
Kristi Noem’s 2024 memoir *No Going Back* recounts that she led her 14-month-old pointer puppy, Cricket, to a gravel pit and shot the animal after it allegedly killed chickens during a pheasant hunt. The episode resurfaced when Senator Tina Smith posted a puppy photo on X, prompting Noem’s defensive reply and a national debate.
Timeline
2024 – Memoir published. Early June – Senator Tina Smith posted a photo of a puppy on X with a caption implying Noem’s absence. Noem responded on X, referencing the post and asserting she still loves puppies. In the following weeks Noem posted that tough decisions involving animals occur on farms. In March, Senator Thom Tillis questioned Noem’s judgment at a Senate Judiciary hearing. Two months after the backlash Noem appeared on CNN, maintaining she does not regret the killing.
Official Statements & Responses
Noem has framed the killing as a routine farm decision, emphasizing that such tough choices are common in agricultural settings and noting the recent euthanasia of three horses. In a CNN interview she described the act as a 20-year-old story of a mother protecting children. The Democratic National Committee urged voters to choose candidates who do not brag about brutally killing pets.
Criticism & Opposition
Former GOP congressman Adam Kinzinger called the incident “shocking” and labeled Noem a “troll.” Senator Thom Tillis warned that Noem, as a farmer, should know better about dog training, linking the anecdote to ICE-related shootings. Meghan McCain said one cannot recover from killing a dog.
Data & Statistics
Key facts: 14-month-old pointer puppy Cricket; one goat killed the same day; three 25-year-old horses later euthanized; two Minnesotans (Renee Good, Alex Pretti) killed in ICE operations.
Why It Matters
The episode resurfaced as Noem was floated as a potential vice-presidential pick, prompting opponents to question her judgment, animal-welfare stance, and overall suitability for higher office.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Noem describes Cricket as a menace threatening livestock; critics argue the puppy was healthy and could have been re-homed. No independent verification of the animal’s behavior is provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Don't worry, buddy, Kristi Noem isn't around anymore.” — Tina Smith, U.S. Senator (Minnesota)
- “Oh but I am…And I love puppies. You…? …not so much.” — Kristi Noem, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
- “I train dogs, alright? And you are a farmer, you should know better,” — Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator (North Carolina)
