Kristi Noem's Colorado event canceled by Jeffco GOP amid dog-killing controversy

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) will not speak as planned in Golden this week after the national outrage over her killing of a puppy created “safety concerns,” according to event organizers.

Noem was scheduled to headline a fundraiser for the Jefferson County Republicans on Saturday. Early Friday morning, the group posted on social media that the event at the Denver West Marriott was canceled.

“In the past few days, numerous threats and/or death threats have been made to our organization, the hotel, and to the Governor and her staff,” a Jeffco Republicans Facebook post read in part. “The Denver West Marriott also received alarming comments and shared with us their deep concern over the safety and security for those attending our event, other guests, and their staff.”

Noem is facing nationwide, bipartisan condemnation for her new book’s claim that killing an unruly puppy was a sign of her leadership ability.

Jeffco Republicans initially embraced the controversy as a means to sell tickets to their fundraising, saying that Noem “will share her perspective on the animal killings” at the dinner event, adding “Don’t miss out.”

Noem called the uproar “fake news” but the details of the puppy’s killing came from her upcoming book, “No Going Back.”

The Republican vice-presidential contender recounted the story of her decision to kill the dog as a sign of her willingness to make hard choices.

Attendees of the Jefferson County GOP fundraiser who purchased a $2,750 VIP ticket were to receive a signed copy of the book. Jeffco GOP President Nancy Pallozzi did not immediately return a request for comment on how refunds would be handled.

In excerpts of the book obtained by The Guardian, Noem describes the dog as “untrainable” and “less than worthless.”

Noem writes that she took the dog, Cricket, to a gravel pit and shot it in the head after it killed her neighbor’s chickens.

Noem’s book also recounts her killing of a goat, which she labeled “nasty and mean.” Noem writes that she failed to kill the goat with the first shot and had to go retrieve another shell to dispatch the wounded animal.

The progressive group ProgressNow planned to hold a protest outside the Jeffco Republicans event, inviting people to gather with their “well-behaved dogs.”

On Friday, Jeffco Republican chair Nancy Pallozzi claimed without evidence that “someone always gets hurt” when organizations like ProgressNow organize protests.

As recently as Wednesday, Jeffco Republicans insisted the event would go on, despite growing condemnation of Noem’s actions and her choice to double down in defense of them.

When the ticket portal for the event was disabled Thursday, Jeffco Republicans told 9NEWS that was because Wednesday was the final day for ticket sales for the Saturday event.

On Friday morning, Jeffco Republicans said the event had been called off after discussions with Noem’s office on Wednesday.

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