PETA criticises Kim Kardashian for giving puppies to her children as Christmas presents

Animal rights group PETA has criticised Kim Kardashian after she gifted each of her four children a puppy

Kim Kardashian has been criticised by the animal rights organisation PETA after she gifted each of her four children a puppy for Christmas, a decision the group says sends the wrong message about responsible pet ownership.

In a statement issued on December 28, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk said puppies should not be treated as novelty gifts and argued that the reality television star missed an opportunity to promote animal adoption. “Puppies are not plushies, and it’s a damn shame that Kim missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups,” Newkirk said, adding that Kardashian has faced online backlash following the holiday reveal.

Puppies aren’t plushies. Kim and Khloé Kardashian missed a huge opportunity to use their platform to help shelter dogs instead of buying from breeders. Ignoring the homeless animal crisis is inexcusable. Next time, call a shelter and choose adoption. https://t.co/hHdaQ5Lb8a

— PETA (@peta) December 27, 2025

Kardashian shares four children with her former husband Kanye West: North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six. PETA warned that animals given as presents are at greater risk of being abandoned once the initial excitement fades, a concern frequently raised by animal welfare groups during the festive season.

Newkirk also criticised Kardashian’s sister Khloé Kardashian, who reportedly added a dog to her household during the Christmas period.

Photo: Instagram

She urged both sisters to consider adoption in future, saying, “They should call PETA or a local shelter the next time they want to add another dog to their family.”

She suggested that the family could still “make some amends” by encouraging their children to volunteer at animal shelters or by supporting adoption events and spay-and-neuter programmes, which PETA says are vital in addressing what it describes as a growing homeless puppy problem.

Kardashian revealed the puppies in a series of Instagram Stories shared on Christmas Day, showing four small Pomeranians in different colours. In one image of the dogs together, she wrote, “Each kid got a puppy.” Khloé Kardashian also posted photos on December 25 of a black Labrador retriever puppy her family received as a gift.

The Kardashian household has previously owned several pets, including multiple Pomeranians and reptiles, while other members of the Kardashian-Jenner family are also known for keeping animals ranging from dogs to horses.