PETA Criticizes Kim Kardashian for Gifting Puppies to Her Children
Kim Kardashian is facing criticism for giving each of her four children their own puppy this Christmas.
“Puppies are not toys, and it’s unfortunate that Kim missed the opportunity to support shelter animals,” said PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk in a statement to The Daily Mail on Saturday, December 27. “To overlook the crisis of homeless animals is completely thoughtless.”
Newkirk urged Kardashian, 45, to “reach out to PETA or a local shelter the next time” she considers adding a dog to her family.
“[She could] make up for it now by having [her] kids volunteer at a local shelter or sponsor a community adopt-a-thon,” Newkirk suggested, noting that Kardashian could also take part in “at least one spay day” to help combat the rising homelessness among puppies.
Kardashian has yet to respond to the backlash. Us Weekly has reached out for comment from the Skims mogul’s representative.
The Kardashians star recently disclosed that she gifted each of her four children — North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 8, with ex-husband Kanye West — pet dogs for the holiday.
“Each kid got a puppy,” Kardashian shared via her Instagram Stories on Thursday, December 25, along with videos of the adorable puppies.
In addition to their new gifts, Kardashian’s kids celebrated the holiday with her at the family’s traditional Christmas Eve gathering.
“We’re not hosting a big Christmas Eve party this year because we recently celebrated my mom’s grand 70th birthday, and wanted something more intimate,” Kim’s sister Khloé Kardashian explained on her Instagram Stories during the event. “Of course, we still love to dress up because that’s who we are. We’re celebrating the holiday in style.”
Kim made a glamorous appearance at the gathering in a vintage silver Thierry Mugler gown from 1968, while her kids opted for all-black outfits.
Kim has previously given her children pets, starting with a Pomeranian named Sushi in 2017. However, she later felt that Sushi was too noisy and considered exchanging her for her niece Penelope’s dog, Honey.
“Yours is so much calmer,” Kim told Kourtney Kardashian in a December 2017 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “I swear [Honey] prefers me now; she’s adjusted. Look how peaceful she is, you aren’t getting her back.”
Kourtney, 46, eventually managed to have Honey returned to her daughter.
“Well, I guess she can have her dog back,” Kim joked in a confessional afterward. “I’ll just have to deal with Sushi’s barking forever.”
In addition to Sushi, Kim has another Pomeranian named Sake, both of which North loves to pamper.
“New Year’s dog plates,” North shared via TikTok in January 2023, showcasing plates filled with lettuce, pear, chicken, peanut butter, carrots, and salmon for the pups.
North manages her social media account under Kim’s guidance.
“I’m doing my best to protect our daughter while allowing her to express her creativity, with adult supervision,” Kim said in a 2022 statement. “It brings her joy.”
