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Part of a series on Sarah Palin. [View Related Entries]

Overview

Sarah Palin's Dog Step Stool refers to the online backslash surrounding a photograph of the former Alaskan governor's son standing on top of the family dog as if it were a stool, which drew much criticism from animal rights activists and others in social media after it was shared on Sarah Palin's Facebook page in January 2015.

Background

On January 1st, 2015, Palin posted several photographs on Facebook^[1] of her son Trig stepping on top of their family dog in order to reach the counter to help wash dishes (shown below). In the first week, the post gained over 73,100 likes and 12,300 shares.

Like Page Sarah Palin added 4 new photos. January 1 at 11:28am- Happy New Year! May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward. Trig just reminded me. He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for "up!", found me and a lazy dog blocking his way. He made his stepping stone Sarah Palin Our hope is not in new year.. .but in the One who makes all things new. Like Comment Share 73,150 people like this. 12,348 shares

Notable Developments

Online Reaction

On the following day, Redditor rhys1882 submitted a screenshot of Palin's Facebook post to the /r/facepalm^[5] subreddit, where it gathered more than 1,000 votes (87% upvoted) in 48 hours.

Feud with PETA

Also on January 2nd, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) condemned Palin for posting the photo in a statement published on the organization's website.^[2]

"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. Then again, PETA, along with everyone else, is used to the hard-hearted, seeming obliviousness of this bizarrely callous woman, who actually thought it appropriate to be filmed while turkeys were being slaughtered right behind her in full view of the camera."

On January 3rd, Palin posted a letter to PETA on her Facebook^[3] page, which defended the photographs by comparing herself to Barack Obama, who admitted to eating dog as a child in Indonesia, and Ellen Degeneres, who posted a similar photo in July (shown below).

The Ellen DeGeneres Show elen July 1, 2014e Well, that's one way to reach the sink.

The same day, PETA^[4]` posted another response, revealing that they had sent a case of "vegan cavier" to Russian President Vladimir Putin and that the organization "simply believes that people shouldn't step on dogs."

News Media Coverage

In the coming days, several news sites published articles about the controversial photograph, including USA Today,^[6] Time,^[7] US Weekly,^[8] E! Online,^[9] Washington Times^[10] and Mediaite.^[11]

Search Interest

External References

^[1] Facebook – Sarah Palin

^[2] PETA – PETAs Response to Sarah Palin’s Facebook Post of Son Stepping on Family Dog

^[3] Facebook – Sarah Palin

^[4] PETA – PETAs Response to Sarah Palins Second Facebook Post

^[5] Reddit – Sarah Palin is proud of her son standing on their dog because the dogs lazy

^[6] USA Today – Sarah Palin bites back at PETA over dog post

^[7] Time – Sarah Palin Is Right

^[8] US Weekly – Sarah Palin Slams PETA After Criticism

^[9] E Online – Sarah Palin Slams PETA Again

^[10] Washington Times – PETA to Sarah Palin

^[11] Mediaite – PETA Calls for Truce with Sarah Palin

Related Entries 2 total

Recent Images 5 total

Breitbart One Voice Silenced, Millions Awakened ELLEN DEGENERES POSTED NEARLY THE SAME The Ellen DeGeneres Show July 1,2014 e Well, thats one way to reach the sink Like-Comment-Share 262,645 people like ris Commems- 19,555 shares Kimberly Young es she's an But I love her nd if you touch he Like Reply 1,914 uly 1, 2014 a 9 PHO SA H PALIN, BUT THE MEDIA... Sarah Palin January ike-Comment-Share Roosevelt Lamar Freeman, Jm Tabert Sifts, Marina Polato and 2.127 others like ths 539 shares View prevous comments ot 3.066 Dawn D'Alessandro Two words for Mathew Denver SHUT UP, You jack drkey. Dog ne and would move # Trig was bothering and or hurning him in any way. To by and shame her as a parent or dog owner you have FAILEDI Lets take a good look at your personal se·and i would bet big money that you are hawed Line Roply 11 mins Bob Schultz Stupid fockers, this dog loves this Let he who is wih out SIN cast the rst stone That's rige mother focker Jill Stones Finch The look the dog is gving here Nor a happy or comfortable look, sight part and showing whtes of it's eyes as well as a sideways glance s a sign of an uncomfortable dog but only staying stil through loyaityl This is erong and very crue Lixe Reply 319mine Soltaire Morales ok let the dog step on the kd en they wa be even.omg get over it ts a dog, everyone roughhouses with their dog my ids try and squash our cat al time as soon as pull them off the cat comes pack for morehe ikes t people.get over it Donna Pyron-Philips Wouldnt it be nice itwe co delete the morons tom facebook so w dnt have o see them type out their ignorance. This pup is smiling and loves his tamly. No pain is involved nor mistreatment taught GET A Like Reply:3 ins ONLY MAKES NOISE ABOUT SARAH

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Sarah Palin's Dog Step Stool