An adorable dog can soften a politician’s image, create viral moments on social media and help voters identify with an office candidate vying for their vote.
But take one wrong step when it comes to the family pooch and prepare to face the wrath of dog lovers everywhere.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem became the latest politician to face dog-related backlash after she admitted in her next book that 20 years ago, she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog, Cricket. According to The Guardian, Noem writes that she “hated” the “aggressive” dog, who she says ruined a pheasant hunt and attacked her neighbor’s chickens.
The story created a storm on social media over the weekend and dog lovers on both sides condemned his decision to kill his dog. Noem, who has been touted as a possible running mate for former President Donald Trump, still maintains its decision of 20 years ago.
Noem is not the first politician to spark anger among critics over her treatment of a dog over the years. Here’s a look at the politicians who have been convicted for their behavior with their pet puppies.
Joe Biden
President Joe Biden has faced harsh criticism after two of the first family’s German shepherds were involved in multiple biting incidents.
Last year, it was reported that Biden’s 2-year-old German Shepherd Commander was involved in 11 biting incidents with White House and Secret Service staff. In February, CNN reported this commander was involved in 24 biting incidents with Secret Service personnel. The commander was removed from the White House campus in October.
Three years ago, Major, also a German shepherd, was sent to live with friends from the family after their own biting incidents.
The incident spurred action by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), who sent a letter to Biden and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su in October seeking to examine workplace safety conditions at the White House.
Foxx told POLITICO that he wrote the letter to remind the White House that it is “not immune to the laws of the land.”
“The president and the first lady care deeply about the safety of those who work in the White House and those who protect them every day,” Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director, told POLITICO in October. “They remain grateful for the patience and support of the U.S. Secret Service and everyone involved as they continue to work on solutions.”
Andrew Cuomo
After New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned and left the governor’s mansion nearly three years ago, the Albany newspaper Times Union reported that he wasn’t trying to take his dog, Captain, with him.
Cuomo reportedly asked staff at the mansion if anyone would be interested in caring for Captain, a 4-year-old Shepherd, Siberian and Malamute mix, who has nipped a few people since Cuomo adopted him in 2018, according to the report.
Democrats and Republicans alike criticized Cuomo on social media for apparently leaving his puppy behind.
“Not just the worst governor in America. The worst dog owner in America.” Representative Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) wrote in a post. “You can tell people’s character by how they treat their animals.”
“I’m taking the puppy,” said New York State Democratic Assembly member Ron Kim. wrote on what was then called Twitter.
Cuomo refuted the dog’s defection claims, saying on social media that “Some people just can’t understand the facts.”
“Yes, I have been upstate monitoring the storm response for a few days, but the captain and I are one man and his dog,” Cuomo wrote in the post. “He is part of our family and will always be that way.”
Ted Cruz
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) caught fire three years ago after a journalist posted a photo of her family’s fluffy white dog, Snowflake, looking out the window from the senator’s darkened home as Cruz and his family traveled to Cancun during a state emergency.
The photo of the seemingly sidelined poodle immediately added to the backlash Cruz was already facing for taking his family out of the country during a storm that left millions of Texans without power.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton punched Cruz in the X after the photo began circulating, saying, “Don’t vote for someone you wouldn’t trust with your dog.”
Cruz denied that Snowflake was left to his own devices, saying the dog had a sitter “and in fact the heat and power were back on.”
“I spend a lot of time on Twitter, so I see that I have apparently literally fed Snowflake to the wolves,” Cruz said at the time.
Pam Bondi
Before Pam Bondi was elected Florida’s attorney general in 2010, she was involved in a custody battle with Hurricane Katrina victims over a Saint Bernard.
Bondi adopted the dog in 2005 after he was separated from his family during Hurricane Katrina. But a Louisiana family was trying to find their dog, originally named Master Tank but renamed by Bondi to Noah, and located his whereabouts in 2006.
Bondi refused to return him and accused the family of neglect because the dog faced long-term problems such as worms. The family said the dog had had worms since he was 10 months old. according to St. Petersburg Times.
The family sued and the dispute lasted 16 months, as reported on CNN and Fox News. Both sides settled the case shortly before going to trial and Bondi returned the dog to the family with food and medication.
Mitt Romney
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) still remembers an incident involving his Irish Setter Seamus, even though it happened decades ago.
The story first came to light in 2007, when The Boston Globe reported that in 1983, 36-year-old Romney placed the family dog in a crate on the roof of his car because there was no room in the station wagon during a 12-hour car trip from Massachusetts to Canada. The dog ended up getting sick and Romney stopped at a gas station to wash it. Romney put Seamus back in the trunk, placed him back on top of the car, and continued on with the rest of the trip.
Romney later defended the decision, stating that Seamus was in an “airtight” kennel and that the dog climbed into the car regularly.
The story drew immediate condemnation from many politicians, but it especially became a favorite stick with which to attack Romney when he ran for president.
During the 2012 presidential race, Republican rival Rick Santorum said that voters need to consider whether Romney is the “kind of person you want to be president of the United States.” Also that year, rival Newt Gingrich came out with an ad attacking Romney for the story. Former President Barack Obama also mocked Romney for the incident.
The saga even unfolded in March 2012 cover of The New Yorkerwhich showed Romney driving a car with Santorum sticking his neck out of a doghouse tied to the roof of the vehicle.
This story originally appeared on Politico.com read the full story
