Kristi Noem defends dog slaying: ‘I chose the safety of my children’

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is doubling down on her decision to shoot and kill her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, 20 years ago, saying that she shot the “dangerous” dog in order to protect her children.

“We were her second chance,” Noem said Wednesday evening on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “The day she was put down was a day that she massacred livestock that were part of our neighbors. She attacked me. And it was a hard decision.”

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