The Guardian obtained a copy of Noem’s soon-to-be released book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.” In it, she tells the story of the ill-fated Cricket, a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer she was training for pheasant hunting.
On the way home from the hunting trip, Noem writes that she stopped to talk to a family. Cricket got out of Noem’s truck and attacked and killed some of the family’s chickens, then bit the governor.
“At that moment,” Noem writes, “I realized I had to put her down.” She led Cricket to a gravel pit and killed her.
She writes, according to the Guardian, that the tale was included to show her willingness to do anything “difficult, messy and ugly” if it has to be done. But backlash was swift against the Republican governor, who just a month ago drew attention and criticism for posting an infomercial-like video about cosmetic dental surgery she received out-of-state.
We got our current dog because his previous owners of nearly eight years adopted a new puppy, and their old dog didn’t like the puppy. So they rehomed their old dog, rather than the puppy.
This dog is the chillest dog ever. Vets love him, groomers love him, we love him. He doesn’t do well with other dogs because they never trained him to.
I think it’s kind of terrible that they chose the puppy, but at the same time I’m so grateful they did because we love our little guy.
That’s bittersweet, but good that the dog gets to live with people who prioritize his well-being.