The American animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has said it will be putting up "head-turning" advertisements in Los Angeles in response to Paris Hilton's recent "speciesist splurge" on a new Chihuahua puppy.
The organisation has described the American socialite and reality TV star's purchase as "problematic" and urged her and members of the public to adopt pets rather than buy them from breeders.
Hilton announced on Instagram on Thursday that she had welcomed a new puppy to her home, which had been related to one of her late pets.
"Absolutely in love with my new puppy! He is so adorable and sweet!" she wrote.
In an article posted online on Friday, PETA accused the star of "living under a rock" and asked her to keep her "retail therapy" to "baubles and bags".
"Paris Hilton recently bought a Chihuahua puppy from a breeder before publicizing her problematic purchase on social media," the article read.
"The star has apparently been living under a rock if she thinks that buying animals is a compassionate thing to do - a visit to an animal shelter would have shown her just how many Chihuahuas need homes - and five minutes on Petfinder would turn up thousands more, including puppies."
It continued: "Next week, we'll be running head-turning ads in Los Angeles, blasting Hilton's speciesist splurge."
PETA said buying animals from pet shops or breeders could result in the death of an animal in a shelter and urged people to "pledge not to buy animals".
"Homelessness is not just a human problem. If you want to bring an animal into your life, always adopt from a shelter," the organisation wrote.
Source: Press Association
