Stick a Fork in Her, She’s Done: The End of Gov. Kristi Noem’s White House Aspirations

South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem just gifted Democrats a golden opportunity with her jaw-dropping admission in her upcoming book “No Going Back” which will be released May 7th.

In a move that could only be described as shooting herself in the foot (and tragically, her dog), Noem recounts the time she decided her 14-month-old dog Cricket was more expendable than a chew toy and took it out to the gravel pit for a permanent dirt nap. Oh, and she threw in a goat for good measure.

Noem shoots dog after bad behavior.

Yes, instead of rehoming a dog that didn’t suit her needs or taking it to an animal shelter, Cricket got shot for being what Noem called “less than worthless” and “untrainable” after chasing birds, killing chickens and trying to bite her.

If Mitt Romney’s misadventure of putting his Irish Setter Seamus in a crate on top of his car for 12 hours expedited the end of his presidential hopes, this will surely do that and more for Noem.

The farm life isn’t a life most people understand.

Most people who will read Noem’s book don’t understand the farm life and that the occasional animal has to be killed for various reasons. However, although the readers might be okay with Noem killing a goat or a cow or even a horse, most folks will get a little miffed if the animal being shot and killed turns out to be a domestic cat or dog.

However, also not understood by most people are the laws that govern dogs and livestock in certain parts of the country.

Even in Michigan, if a dog attacks livestock, It can be killed by an individual or a law enforcement officer.

In Michigan, dogs can be killed for going after livestock.

Yes, in Michigan, the law clearly states, “Any person including a law enforcement officer may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing, worrying, or wounding any livestock or poultry or attacking persons, and there shall be no liability on such person in damages or otherwise, for such killing.”

That law exists because most of the state’s animal laws are defined under the antiquated Dog Law of 1919 when livestock was more important than domestic pets.