On December 30, 2025, a familiar debate over celebrity influence, animal welfare, and the responsibilities of pet ownership erupted into public view—this time, with the Kardashian family squarely in the crosshairs. The spark? Kim Kardashian, the ever-prominent Skims founder, and her sister Khloe Kardashian each gifted their children puppies for Christmas, sharing the news—and adorable photos—across their massive social media platforms. But not everyone was charmed. British television personality and animal advocate Vicky Pattison, herself a devoted dog owner, joined a chorus of critics who accused the famous sisters of ignoring the plight of shelter animals and sending the wrong message to millions of fans.
According to the Daily Mail, Kim Kardashian, 45, introduced four new dogs into her family the week before New Year’s Eve. Each of her four children—North West (12), Saint (10), Chicago (7), and Psalm (6)—received a puppy. Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian, 41, welcomed a Labrador puppy named Peppermint, obtained from an Indiana breeder, into her household. The timing, the spectacle, and the sheer scale of the Kardashian reach (their combined Instagram following exceeds 650 million) quickly transformed what might have been a private family joy into a very public controversy.
Vicky Pattison, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing earlier this year and is known for her advocacy work with rescue animals, did not hold back. Posting to Instagram, Pattison wrote, “I’ve been deliberating doing this post for a couple of days now because I have zero desire to incur the wrath of Kardashian fans the world over, especially when I’m having such a lovely festive break. But honestly, some things are worth getting trolled over.” She continued, “I understand wanting to make your kids happy at Christmas, as a mother I’m sure that desire is paramount—and Khloe and Kim K are no different. Except they are. As two of the most recognisable and followed women on the planet they had the opportunity to use their platform and influence to help shelter dogs across the world—instead they chose to ignore the homeless animal crisis and bought pet dogs for their children from breeders.”
Pattison’s frustration was rooted not only in the act of buying puppies but also in what she sees as a missed opportunity for the Kardashians to model responsible pet adoption. “I’m not trying to be judgmental here—and trust me when I say I love keeping up with the Kardashians as much as the next gal—but this is about responsibility and the impact these sisters choosing adopting over designer dog shopping could have had on thousands of homeless animals’ lives.”
She went further, highlighting the grim reality faced by many animals after the holiday season. “There are millions of loving, loyal and beautiful animals languishing in shelters all over the world—of all breeds, ages and with all backgrounds—and that fact is heartbreaking... a number that will probably increase in January and February when all of these ‘Christmas puppies’ that don’t fit conveniently into people’s lifestyles get abandoned. And that is the sad fate for a lot of these ‘presents’.”
Pattison, who adopted her own Labradors Milo and Max in 2021 and 2022, used her platform to encourage others to consider adoption. “Dogs aren’t gifts. Puppies aren’t labubus. And this narrative is not only disappointing, it’s irresponsible. I would just urge everyone to think carefully about adding to their family, and seriously consider adoption.” She also provided resources for those interested in helping, mentioning shelters like @southeastdogrescue and The Pack Project UK, both of which are, in her words, “crying out for support.”
Her Instagram stories addressed another common concern: the belief that rescue dogs are inherently troubled or unsafe around children. “The discourse around shelter dogs is so misinformed,” Pattison explained. “There are dogs who sadly come to shelters with horrible stories, a heartbreaking but very true fact. However, there are dogs who find themselves in shelters for a plethora of reasons and there are puppies (like these adorable babies) who arrived via pregnant mothers etc who have no behavioural issues, traumas or anything to potentially worry about. Just thought I’d clear that up.”
The backlash didn’t end with Pattison. Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA, issued a statement obtained by the Daily Mail that was even more pointed: “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. Ignoring the homeless animals crisis is inexcusably callous, and so we ask Kim and Khloe, who did the same thing, to call PETA or a local shelter the next time they want to bring an animal into their home—and 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.”
Public reaction on social media was swift and, in many cases, scathing. Reddit threads filled with criticism: “Puppies are not Christmas gifts for kids,” one user wrote. Another added, “Animals and pets are not gifts unless someone has really wanted that pet and will truly look after it. This is f**ked up.” Others questioned how the children would learn to care for pets if each had their own, likening the arrangement to “a Tamagotchi.” Many expressed concern that the novelty would wear off, leaving the dogs neglected or, worse, abandoned.
This isn’t the first time Kim Kardashian’s pet ownership has drawn scrutiny. In 2022, she faced criticism after posting a video that appeared to show her Pomeranians, Sushi and Sake (adopted with sister Kourtney Kardashian in 2017), living in a garage setup during Christmas. The video, intended to showcase their festive accommodations, instead triggered outrage from followers who felt the arrangement was inadequate for the dogs’ well-being.
For Khloe, the addition of Peppermint, the new Labrador puppy, comes with its own emotional backstory. Her daughters True (7) and Tatum (3) had been asking for a puppy, and Khloe has spoken openly about the loss of her previous black lab, Gabbana, who died in 2018 at the age of fourteen. “She was more than a pet. She was my first child, my companion and my friend... I never thought I would be this devastated over losing a dog but 14 years is a long time together. She filled a significant role in my life and I’m forever grateful. I love you Goober!! I’ll remember you always!” Khloe wrote at the time.
Meanwhile, little Peppermint is settling in, with Khloe sharing videos of her daughters and even the family’s Russian Blue cat acclimating to the new arrival. But for many observers, the focus remains on the broader message being sent to millions of followers. Pattison’s call to action—“#adoptdontstop”—and her emphasis on supporting shelters reflect a growing movement that urges celebrities to use their platforms to champion animal welfare, rather than inadvertently fueling demand for designer pets.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the debate over how best to promote responsible pet ownership is far from over, especially when the world’s most influential families are involved. The choices of public figures like the Kardashians will continue to shape the conversation, for better or for worse, in the years to come.