Replies

As I recall, I’d just come back from a grouse hunt when I picked that name. Went through a couple of names that were apparently already used, looked at the dog, and thought “Why not?”

I see plenty of comments here from posters saying that people should be put down before they eventually kill someone. And “ progressive” DAs are letting serial criminals loose to do just that. Not going to get too worked up over someone else’s decision to put down a second-chance dog that threatened them, rather than kick the problem down to a third owner.

Back in the ‘70s, an uncle got a little terrier mix while traveling in Oregon. Harmless enough dog. Back in Missouri, it killed a couple of chickens. It was put down. Farms work that way.

So, Rooster, you question Noem’s motives? Or her veracity? Maybe she shot the dog for kicks? She could have fleshed out the story in the book, or left it out entirely. Her choice. Should she have known she’d be raked over the coals no matter what she wrote? Probably. Not the biggest gaffe she’s ever committed. Call it her “fweedom” moment.

I don't question Noem's judgment for putting down the dog because I don't know the details.

I question her judgment for putting it in her memoir and referring to it lightly (in a way that almost looks like bragging--per Dana Perino who read the book and grew up on a farm).

I grew up around animals (dogs, cats, chickens, and horses). It was not a light moment when any of them were put down.

I would have taken the the dog and it would have lived a happy life. I had 50+ dogs and they were all special. And I had a few extremely aggressive dogs and if I would have had to put one down I would have down it with reverence, dignity and humanely. No of which Noem did.