Parties split on whether Gov. Noem was justified in shooting dog, poll finds

Weeks after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem revealed in her new book that she killed her unruly pet dog, a majority of South Dakota registered voters said the killing was unjustified.

According to a poll taken by South Dakota News Watch, a nonprofit news organization, 58% of registered voters said the killing was unjustified, while 38% said it was justified. 

Opinions about the killing were divided largely along party lines. Just 1 in 10 Democrats said the dog's death was justified. Meanwhile, almost 6 in 10 Republicans polled said it was justified. Nearly 9 in 10 Democrats said the killings were unjustified, while just over 2 in 10 Republicans thought Noem was unjustified in killing her dog. 

“The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down,” Noem said in a statement in late April. “Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did. Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor.”

The polling did indicate a small drop in support for the governor once considered one of the leading candidates to be presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's running mate. Fifty-two percent of voters surveyed approve of her performance as governor. An April poll by Morning Consult had her approval rating at 59%. 

As for whether she should be Trump's running mate, 29% of South Dakotans surveyed think she should be the vice presidential nominee, while 58% say she should not. Polling showed majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents oppose her being Trump's running mate.