The Kardashian holiday season just got a whole lot messier—and not because of wrapping paper. Both Kim and Khloé Kardashian are under fire from PETA and animal rights advocates after showing off their families’ new Christmas puppies, sparking a storm of backlash over promoting breeders instead of adoption.
The controversy began on Christmas Day when Khloé shared a sweet video of her kids, True and Tatum, meeting their new black Labrador retriever, Peppermint. The footage was meant to be heartwarming—but one small detail set off a social media firestorm. In her Instagram Story, Khloé tagged Big Creek Labradors, an Indiana-based breeder. Within hours, critics flooded the comments, accusing her of glamorizing commercial breeding at a time when animal shelters across the country are overwhelmed.
While fans praised the adorable pup, rescue advocates said the post was “tone-deaf” and “irresponsible,” especially given the Kardashians’ massive influence. Many argued that even an innocent breeder tag sends the wrong message in a world where millions of dogs wait in shelters.
Just as the online outrage reached a boil, the focus shifted to Kim Kardashian. Days later, she shared her own Christmas surprise—four tiny Pomeranian puppies, each one gifted to one of her children. The picture-perfect moment of North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm’s new furry friends quickly turned controversial as fans accused Kim of treating the puppies like holiday props.
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk didn’t hold back, calling the sisters’ decisions “inexcusably callous.” “Puppies are not plushies,” she declared, urging Kim and Khloé to use their platforms to promote adoption, volunteer at shelters, or fund spay-and-neuter programs instead of spotlighting breeders.
Animal welfare groups echoed PETA’s criticism, arguing that celebrity breeder endorsements can drive demand and worsen the shelter crisis. Meanwhile, defenders of the Kardashians countered that both families clearly have the resources for proper pet care and that PETA’s reaction was overly harsh.
Still, neither Kim nor Khloé has responded publicly to the controversy, allowing speculation and debate to swirl online. The drama highlights the ongoing tension between luxury lifestyles and public responsibility—a space the Kardashians seem to occupy constantly. This time, their lavish Christmas posts are raising a bigger question: when it comes to fame, influence, and ethics, is a “cute moment” ever really just that?
