Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian has shown she is completely unfazed by a fierce backlash from animal rights charity PETA, continuing to post adorable snaps of her new Christmas puppy just days after the organisation slammed her decision.
PETA's Stinging Criticism
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) publicly criticised both Khloe, 41, and her sister Kim for purchasing puppies from breeders as Christmas presents for their children, rather than opting to adopt from a rescue shelter. The charity's founder, Ingrid Newkirk, released a statement obtained by the Daily Mail, calling the move "inexcusably callous" in light of the ongoing homeless animals crisis.
"Puppies are not plushies," Newkirk stated, specifically addressing Kim's choice. She suggested the sisters could make amends by having their children volunteer at a local shelter or funding an adopt-a-thon. The core message was clear: PETA believes the Kardashians missed a vital opportunity to promote shelter adoption.
Kardashians Double Down on Puppy Love
Despite the controversy, Khloe has proudly introduced her new black Labrador Retriever, named Peppermint, to her millions of followers. In one image, the puppy is seen posing cutely on the gravel driveway of her home, while another shows Peppermint relaxing inside her sprawling mansion.
The backlash was not limited to Khloe. Kim Kardashian sparked even greater fury by revealing she bought four puppies—one for each of her children. She announced the new additions to her family of five with a photo of the pups on a sofa, captioned simply: "Each kid got a puppy."
Fan Fury on Social Media
The sisters' decisions ignited a firestorm of criticism from fans and followers online, extending beyond PETA's official comments. On platforms like Reddit, users condemned the move as irresponsible.
One person argued, "Puppies are not Christmas gifts for kids," while another stated animals should only be given as gifts if the recipient is fully prepared for the long-term responsibility. A third critic worried the children would not learn to care for a shared pet, comparing the individual puppies to disposable Tamagotchi toys. Others labelled the act "sad" and "wrong in every conceivable way," expressing concern the dogs would be neglected once they grew older.
A History of Pet Ownership and Controversy
This is not the first time the Kardashians have faced scrutiny over their pets. In 2022, Kim was criticised after a TikTok video by her daughter, North West, suggested the family dogs were living in the garage. Kim is also a pet parent to dogs named Sushi and Sake, whom she adopted with sister Kourtney in 2017.
Khloe has owned dogs before, notably paying a heartfelt tribute when her dog Gabbana died a few years ago, describing the pet as her "first child" and companion of 14 years.
The puppy drama unfolds against a backdrop of reported improved family relations for Kim. It was recently revealed that Kim and ex-husband Kanye West are now co-parenting successfully and spent Christmas together with their four children: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. A source told TMZ that Kanye has been "working on himself," leading to a more amicable dynamic between the former couple.
