Mitt Romney Clarifies Dog Ownership Amid Noem Comparison: ‘I Didn’t Shoot My Dog’

Mitt Romney Clarifies Dog Ownership Amid Noem Comparison: 'I Didn't Shoot My Dog'

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) criticized Gov. Kristi Noem (R) of South Dakota for shooting her dog, but he dismissed any similarities to his own dog-related scandal from the 2012 presidential campaign.

“I guess it kind of makes it a little difficult for President Trump to find someone to be his vice president. He has to look for someone smarter than him, a better speaker than him and, like him, does not get burdened with principles,” Romney stated on Tuesday.

The senator from Utah also refuted the idea that Noem’s “tale of slaughter” in her soon-to-be published political biography is similar to him facing criticism for strapping his dog Seamus to the top of the family vehicle while traveling cross-country, an incident that deeply divided many voters during the campaign.

“I didn’t eat my dog. I didn’t shoot my dog. I loved my dog, and my dog loved me,” Romney stated.

An advance copy of Noem’s upcoming book obtained by The Guardian claims that she reveals anecdotal evidence from 20 years ago, when she shot a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket.

The governor, who has been floated as a potential running partner for Trump, recalled how much she “hated” Cricket, calling the dog “dangerous,” “untrainable,” and “less than worthless… as a hunting dog.”

She stated, “It was not a pleasant job,” describing her choice to shoot the dog near her ranch’s gravel dump. “But it had to be done.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Noem defended her actions, stating that she followed the law and that she was “being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor” despite receiving days of scathing criticism about the event, including her audacious decision to put it in a memoir.

Read Also: Kristi Noem Responds: The Justification Behind the Dog’s Killing

“She’s obviously not an experienced dog trainer because I’ve seen ill-behaved dogs are usually a reflection of their owner,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) stated.

When presented with a difficult choice, most dog owners, according to Tillis, a dog enthusiast who organizes a “bipawtisan” dog parade in Washington each Halloween, would “go find someone that would actually take the dog and train it, rehabilitate it.”

Regarding Noem’s choice to include the incident in her book, he continued, “It was weird. I don’t see it as a net win for anybody but the dog killers caucus.”

The report confused other Republicans as well.

The congressional delegation from South Dakota, meanwhile, spoke up for ranchers like Noem and others who have to make difficult choices regarding their livestock.

“If a family decides that they have to put their pet down, their dog down, then I think most of us feel that it’s a very private and personal matter,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) stated.

“Most people would go to the vet, but I would tell you that Kristi Noem was not the first or the thousandth farmer or rancher that’s put down an animal themselves,” continued Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). This is commonplace in rural America.

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.