Column: Compassion and strength are qualities of true leaders, not killing puppies

Don’t shoot your puppy in the head for behaving like a puppy. The same goes for a goat behaving like a goat.

You wouldn’t think spreading that message would be necessary. Like many pet-loving Americans, I have been profoundly disturbed by the recent reports surrounding South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s choice to execute her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer puppy, Cricket.

Cricket’s offense? Joyfully chasing the pheasants she was supposed to be hunting. More on the goat later.

As the director of an animal welfare organization, I stand with countless individuals nationwide dedicated to the protection of pets. We work daily to provide health services, pet supplies and animal welfare education in an effort to support responsible pet ownership and the reciprocal joy that brings. It has been proven that our pets offer not only unconditional love, but a myriad of health benefits like stress reduction, increased activity and community connection. In turn, it is our responsibility to offer the care they need, including proper training. 

Gov. Noem asserts that her willingness to unceremoniously dispatch Cricket proves her mental toughness. A demonstration of actual toughness would have been honoring her implicit commitment to the animal for which she was responsible and providing the training Cricket may have needed. When pets fail to meet our expectations, it is rarely their fault. Responsibility almost always lies with humans. Alternatively, Noem could have reached out to one of the many breed-specific rescues to re-home Cricket. Her choice to shoot Cricket was lazy, irresponsible and unnecessary.

When a person in a leadership position attempts to normalize abhorrent behavior, pay attention. They are setting a dangerous precedent that could influence societal norms. It’s a perverse twist on the emperor having no clothes. 

And the goat? His offense was being smelly and grumpy, which is absolutely to be expected of a billy goat, especially one in rut (mating mode). And yes, he was led to the same killing grounds and shot to death by the governor. 

The next time Noem feels the urge to kill a wholly dependent animal, I invite her to reach out to an animal welfare organization for assistance instead. That would demonstrate the compassionate strength to do the right thing, something a truly tough leader exemplifies under even the most difficult circumstances.

Andrew Krebbs is executive director of the Monroe County Humane Association.