Statement For Press

EXPERT INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE

No “Rational and Plausible Excuse” for Gov. Noem’s Shooting Juvenile Dog

ayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, reacted to news coverage of excerpts from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s new book, in which she recounts her callous killing of a 14-month-old puppy named Cricket because she went “out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life.”

Noem claimed that the dog attacked a local family’s chickens and “whipped around to bite” her when she tried to stop her. She then shot Cricket dead in a gravel pit.

“There’s no rational and plausible excuse for Noem shooting a juvenile dog for normal puppy-like behavior. If she is unable to handle an animal, ask a family member or a neighbor to help. If training and socializing the dog doesn’t work, then give the dog to a more caring family or to a shelter for adoption. Raising and caring for a dog takes patience and kindness. Tens of millions of Americans who know and love dogs have to wonder about a person who expresses hatred for a young female dog and kills her.”

Mr. Pacelle is available for interviews and additional quotes or information at wayne@animalwellnessaction.org.

Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter

Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @AWAction_News