Sarah Palin’s parental tactics raised eyebrows last September, when she boasted on Twitter that her “straight-shooter” daughter Bristol makes her a “proud mama,” hours after Bristol was involved in a drunken fight at a snowmobile party. The 50-year-old politician again invited critics to bash her on social media when her New Year’s post on Facebook praised her son Trig for stepping on their black Labrador so he could reach the kitchen counter.

In the controversial post, Palin showed followers an image of her 6-year-old son Trig standing on top of their family dog’s back with a smile on his face.

“Happy New Year! May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward,” wrote Palin in the image’s caption. “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.”

Trig has Down syndrome, and while the post was meant to cast him and his inventive way to reach the kitchen counter in a positive light, followers immediately took issue with the “animal cruelty” Palin was promoting by encouraging her son to step on their dog. Even her pro-Palin followers expressed disappointment, reminding her that “there are lots of dog lovers out there,” and a more appropriate New Year’s post could likely be made.

 

The post received over 13,000 comments 24 hours after it was posted, but Palin has yet to respond to the social media backlash the image and her caption have garnered. A similar reaction occurred after her daughter Bristol reportedly punched a man several times in a drunken fight last September and Palin expressed nothing but pride in her daughter after the incident.

“I love my Bristol! My straight-shooter is one of the strongest young women you’ll ever meet,” she tweeted to much public dismay. “I have to say this as a proud mama: right up there with their work ethic and heart for those less fortunate, my kids’ defense of family makes my heart soar!”