• Kim Kardashian gifts a puppy to each of her four children
• PETA urges support for shelters instead of buying purebred dogs

Kim Kardashian (45) faced widespread criticism after gifting each of her four children a puppy for Christmas.

Kardashian posted photos of the four puppies on her Instagram account with the caption: "Each child got a puppy."

The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) quickly responded, with its founder Ingrid Newkirk telling a magazine: "Puppies are not toys, and unfortunately Kim missed a chance to be a spokesperson for shelter dogs, and instead faced deserved criticism on social media."

Newkirk suggested that Kardashian or anyone else contact local shelters in the future.

She added: "They can now try to make up for it by sending their children to volunteer at a local shelter or support dog adoption events or spay/neuter days to help curb the growing stray dog crisis."

Newkirk described buying purebred dogs as a "cruel and unjustified" act, emphasizing the importance of supporting animals in need instead of focusing on dogs bred for sale.