Kim Kardashian’s Christmas morning has turned into a PR nightmare.
The SKIMS mogul is facing a scathing rebuke from PETA after revealing that she gifted each of her four children their own individual Pomeranian puppy. The move effectively added four new dogs to the Kardashian-West household overnight. The animal rights organization blasted it as “inexcusably callous” and a missed opportunity to advocate for shelter animals.
In a blistering statement released on Sunday, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk did not hold back. She accused the reality star of treating living animals like disposable toys rather than lifetime commitments.
The controversy kicked off on Christmas Day when Kardashian posted a photo of the four puppies. They ranged in color from cream to black and were seen snuggled together on a beige sofa. While the image was meant to be a cute holiday reveal for her 360 million followers, PETA saw it as a dangerous message.
“Puppies are not plushies, and it’s a damn shame that Kim missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups and instead is being rightly slammed on social media for that,” Newkirk said in a statement to People.
Kim was not the only target in the organization’s crosshairs. Her sister, Khloé Kardashian, also faced criticism after gifting her children, True and Tatum, a black Labrador puppy named Peppermint.
Unlike Kim, who did not tag a source, Khloé explicitly tagged “Big Creek Labradors,” a breeder based in Indiana, in her Instagram posts. She gushed over the new addition. “I am not ok right now… she is the sweetest soul ever!!!!!” she wrote.
PETA urged both sisters to “call PETA or a local shelter the next time” they want to add an animal to their home. They also offered a path to redemption. Newkirk suggested the sisters could “make some amends now by sending their kids to volunteer at a local shelter or paying for a local shelter adopt-a-thon.”
This is not the first time the Kardashian-Jenner clan has faced scrutiny over their pets. Fans have long tracked the family’s “revolving door” of animals. They often question the whereabouts of previous pets, such as Mercy the kitten or the various dogs that appeared on their reality shows, only to vanish several seasons later.
Critics on social media echoed PETA’s sentiments. Many questioned the practicality of giving four young children (ages 6 to 12) individual puppies simultaneously. “How do you housebreak four puppies at once?” one user commented. “This screams ‘staff problem’, not ‘family pet’.”
Others pointed out the logistics of managing four new dogs alongside the family’s existing pets. Kim famously has two other Pomeranians, Sushi and Sake. This brings the total count of small dogs in the Hidden Hills mansion to six.
The backlash highlights a growing divide between celebrity culture and animal advocacy. PETA argues that influencers with the reach of the Kardashians have a moral obligation to promote adoption.
As of Monday morning, neither Kim nor Khloé has publicly responded to PETA’s comments. The family has continued to post holiday content, including photos of the puppies playing with the children in matching pajamas.
Do you think PETA went too far, or was Kim’s gift irresponsible? Sound off in the comments below.