Kim Kardashian Gifts 4 Puppies to Kids, Faces Backlash

Reality star criticized by PETA after Christmas puppy surprise for her family

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Kim Kardashian shared photos of the four Pomeranian puppies she gifted to her four children - North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 6 - for Christmas. The reality TV star faced criticism from animal rights group PETA, who slammed her for giving pets as gifts instead of encouraging adoption from shelters.

Why it matters

Kim Kardashian is a high-profile celebrity, and her actions can influence public perception and consumer behavior around pet ownership. PETA's criticism highlights the ongoing debate around the ethics of gifting pets, especially during the holiday season when impulse purchases may lead to animals being abandoned later.

The details

On Christmas Day, Kim Kardashian revealed on Instagram that she had gifted each of her four children their own Pomeranian puppy. She shared photos and videos of the kids playing with the new dogs, which included two with dark fur, one with a cream coat, and one with sable fur. However, the move was quickly criticized by PETA, whose founder Ingrid Newkirk said Kardashian "missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups" and instead contributed to the "growing homeless puppy crisis." Newkirk suggested the Kardashian-Jenner family could make amends by having their kids volunteer at a local shelter or sponsoring a spay day.

  • On Christmas Day 2025, Kim Kardashian gifted each of her four children a Pomeranian puppy.
  • On March 6, 2026, Kardashian reshared photos of the puppies on Instagram, captioning the post "Welcome to the fam."

The players

Kim Kardashian

A 45-year-old reality TV star and entrepreneur, known for her high-profile celebrity status and large social media following.

Ingrid Newkirk

The founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), a prominent animal rights organization that criticized Kardashian's decision to gift puppies.

North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm

Kim Kardashian's four children, aged 12, 10, 8, and 6 respectively, who each received a Pomeranian puppy as a Christmas gift.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Ingrid Newkirk, Founder of PETA

“[They can] try to make some amends now by sending their kids to volunteer at a local shelter or paying for a local shelter adopt-a-thon or at least one spay day to help stop the growing homeless puppy crisis.”

— Ingrid Newkirk, Founder of PETA

What’s next

PETA has suggested that the Kardashian-Jenner family could make amends by having their children volunteer at a local animal shelter or sponsoring a spay day to help address the issue of homeless puppies.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around the ethics of gifting pets, especially during the holiday season. While pets can bring joy, the decision to acquire an animal should be carefully considered to ensure the animal's wellbeing and avoid contributing to the problem of pet homelessness.