After Sarah Palin published a photograph of her 6-year-old son Trig, who has Down’s syndrome, stepping on their family dog, a black Labrador named Jill, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has criticized Palin for her behavior towards her pet.

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk immediately responded to the controversial picture:

“It’s odd that anyone – let alone a mother – would find it appropriate to post such a thing, with no apparent sympathy for the dog in the photo.”

The former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential pick in 2008 took to Facebook to tell PETA to ‘chill’, stressing that at least her son didn’t eat the dog. Palin also claimed hypocrisy from PETA over their treatment of comedian Ellen DeGeneres and President Barack Obama, saying the latter confessed to enjoying eating dog meat as a child in Indonesia.

She pointed out that DeGeneres posted a picture of a girl using a dog to reach a bathroom sink last year without any criticism from PETA.  DeGeneres was Peta’s Woman of the Year in 2009.

“Hey, by the way, remember your ‘Woman of the Year’, Ellen DeGeneres? Did you get all wee-wee’d up when she posted this sweet picture? Hypocritical, much?”

Palin concluded by saying that she respects all God’s creatures.

“Our pets are loved, spoiled and cared for more than some people care for their fellow man whose politics may not mesh with nonsensical liberally failed ways or don’t fit your flighty standards. Jill is a precious part of our world. So is Trig.”

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