South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks ahead of former President Donald Trump during a campaign event outside Wright Bros. Aero Inc. at the Dayton International Airport for U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Dayton, Ohio © Barbara Perenic / USA TODAY NETWORK
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(Golden, CO) — A Colorado fundraiser featuring South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been canceled following her dog-shooting story. Noem was considered a frontrunner on former President Trump’s short list of vice presidential candidates, and was set to headline a GOP fundraising dinner this weekend. But on Friday, Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Nancy Pallozzi said the event was no longer happening “due to safety concerns” and receiving “numerous threats.” This comes after The Guardian published an excerpt from Noem’s upcoming memoir that spoke about her shooting a 14-month-old hunting dog.
In the book, Noem includes a story about when she had to shoot and kill her 14-month-old dog. Noem told WABC’s “Cats and Cosby” that the dog was vicious and bit her. She says the pooch was given to her by another family that could not handle the dog. She writes in her memoir that the story illustrates how she’s willing to do what’s necessary, even if it’s “difficult, messy and ugly.”
Animal lovers across the country are outraged. Many taking to online platforms to shame the governor for what she did. Some are asking why she did not give the dog away, or put it to sleep, instead of shooting her.