Politicians and dog experts are criticizing South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem after she wrote in a new book about killing a rambunctious puppy. The story — and the vilification she received on social media — has some wondering whether she’s still a viable potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Experts who work with hunting dogs like Noem’s said she should have trained — not killed — the pup, or found other options if the dog was out of control.
Noem has tried to reframe the story from two decades ago as an example of her willingness to make tough decisions. She wrote on social media that the 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket had shown aggressive behavior by biting.
“As I explained in the book, it wasn’t easy,” she said on X. “But often the easy way isn’t the right way.”
Still, Democrats and even some conservatives have been critical.
It’s not hard to understand at all. There’s a couple things at work here: first, humans are terrible at connecting emotionally to long term consequences. That’s why a disaster that kills 100 people will always elicit a stronger reaction than a policy that will kill millions.
Another thing happening is how humans subconsciously justify things to themselves. An adult could have “deserved” whatever happened, but there’s no way a puppy did.
I think it’s dogs tickling the same parts of our brains as kids, which would go towards explaining the similar reactions.
I think there’s also the idea that many people have that dogs are loyal and loving no matter what and don’t judge you, unlike all of those awful people out there who obviously deserve what’s coming to them.