Kim Kardashian has been criticised by PETA for buying her children a puppy each for Christmas

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement: "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."

Kim shared her Christmas gift with fans by posting a picture of the puppies on Instagram and writing: "Each kid got a puppy."

The puppies join her dogs Sushi and Sake, who were adopted with her sister Kourtney Kardashian in 2017.

Khloe also went public with her puppy news by revealing she was fulfilling her kids' Christmas wish.

Before the holidays, Khloe shared a hand-written note from her children on Instagram in which they asked : "Please can I have a real puppy".

She later returned to the platform to explain she had made their wish come true, revealing she had bought a dog from a breeder based in Indiana and named her Peppermint, saying: "'I am going to cry she's the best in the world."

Khloe previously owned a black Labrador named Gabbana, who died in 2018.

After her death, Khloe shared a tribute to her pet, writing: "Last night my sweet Gabbana passed away. 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 loosing [sic] 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!"