Reality television star Kim Kardashian has ignited a firestorm of criticism from animal rights organisation PETA and social media users after revealing she gifted each of her four children a Pomeranian puppy for Christmas.
PETA Founder Issues Stern Condemnation
Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), released a statement sharply criticising the 45-year-old SKIMS founder's decision. Newkirk decried the move as a missed opportunity to advocate for shelter animals and sided with netizens who ‘rightly slammed’ the celebrity.
In her statement, obtained by The Daily Mail, Newkirk emphasised, "Puppies are not plushies, and it’s a damn shame that Kim missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups." She also called out Kim's sister, Khloe Kardashian, 41, for similarly acquiring a new Labrador retriever, named Peppermint, from a breeder instead of a rescue centre.
Newkirk urged both sisters to contact PETA or a local shelter in future and suggested they could make amends by having their children volunteer at a shelter or funding an adopt-a-thon. "Ignoring the homeless animals crisis is inexcusably callous," she stated.
Social Media Fury and Past Controversies
The backlash was not confined to PETA. Kim faced immediate wrath online after posting a photo of the four puppies cuddled on a couch with the caption, "Each kid got a puppy." Her children with ex-husband Kanye West are North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6.
On platforms like Reddit, users expressed strong disapproval. One commented, "Puppies are not Christmas gifts for kids," while another argued pets should not be gifts unless the recipient is fully prepared for the responsibility. Concerns were raised that each child having their own dog could undermine the value of shared pet care, with one user comparing it to treating them like "Tamagotchi" toys.
This is not Kim's first controversy regarding pet care. In 2022, she faced scrutiny when a video posted by her daughter North appeared to show her other two Pomeranians, Sushi and Sake (adopted in 2017), living in a garage pen with pee pads, despite festive decorations.
Khloe's Emotional Connection and New Arrival
Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian celebrated the arrival of her family's new Labrador, Peppermint, from Big Creek Labradors in Indiana. She shared her emotional reaction, posting, "I am going to cry she’s the best in the world." Her children, True, 7, and Tatum, 3, had asked for a puppy.
The new dog holds deeper significance, as Khloe previously owned a black lab named Gabbana, who died in 2018 at age fourteen. Khloe once referred to Gabbana as her "first child." She has since posted videos of Peppermint acclimating to the family, including interactions with one of their Russian Blue cats.
Despite the personal meaning, Khloe's choice to use a breeder, like her sister Kim, has placed both celebrities at the centre of a heated debate about responsible pet ownership and the promotion of animal adoption during a widespread shelter crisis.
