Kristi Noem’s Clapback Backfires as Critics Revive Dog-Killing Scandal

Kristi Noem tried to brush off a remark about her past with dogs. Instead, she gave critics a reason to revisit it.

The former homeland security secretary caught attention online after responding to Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who shared a photo of herself holding a small dog on X.

“Don’t worry buddy, Kristi Noem isn’t around anymore,” Smith wrote.

Noem replied, “Oh, but I am,” and added, “I love puppies.”

However, her response didn’t come off the way she hoped.

Within minutes, users began referring back to the story that harmed her national standing in 2024. In her memoir, No Going Back, she wrote about killing her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket.

This episode became one of the book's most talked-about parts. Noem stated that Cricket had disrupted a pheasant hunt, attacked a local family's chickens, and acted dangerously. She then decided to kill the dog.

The passage faced sharp criticism from animal welfare advocates, Democrats, and some Republicans when it came to light during Noem’s rise as a national conservative figure. At that time, she was seen as a potential running mate for Donald Trump, but the story haunted her in interviews, campaign events, and online discussions.

Noem defended her decision after the backlash, claiming she shared the story to show her willingness to make tough choices. She said life on a farm sometimes involves decisions that outsiders might not understand.

“We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm,” Noem wrote on X in 2024.

She noted that her family had recently put down three horses that had been with them for 25 years.

However, her explanation did little to silence the criticism. Detractors argued that the story stood out not because she lived on a farm, but because Cricket was still a young dog.

Animal welfare advocates contended that the dog could have been trained, rehomed, or managed without being killed.

Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle commented at the time that there was “no rational and plausible excuse” for shooting a young dog over what he described as normal puppy behavior.

Noem also discussed the incident during a 2024 appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation. She claimed the dog posed a danger and asked viewers to consider her situation.

“I would ask everybody in the country to put themselves in that situation,” Noem said. “Because that’s what I faced, and I talked about it because I’m tired of politicians who pretend to be something that they’re not.”

Smith didn’t name Cricket in her post, but the meaning was clear. Noem’s reply made the reference harder to ignore.

The brief exchange quickly turned into another round of jokes, criticism, and reposts about the memoir passage. Many users highlighted the contradiction between Noem’s claim that she loves puppies and her account in her book.

The renewed response showed how much the story has lingered. More than a year after the memoir’s release, Noem’s name is still closely associated with Cricket, even when she tries to make light of it.

For Noem, the issue was not just Smith’s jab. Her own reply breathed new life into the old controversy.