Katie Price has been criticised by animal rights activists after her daughter Princess’ puppy Rolo tragically suffocated.
The French bulldog died after getting stuck in an electric armchair while the reality star was backing some bags in another room, reports The Mirror.
Rolo was given to Princess, 13, as a birthday present last month and is the third dog of the family’s to die in tragic circumstances.
Tragic: Katie Price, 42, has been slammed by animal rights activists after her daughter Princess’ puppy Rolo ‘suffocated when he got caught in an electric armchair’
Animal rights activists have slammed Katie online since news of her latest dogs tragic passing broke, with many even contacting the breeders.
Elisa Allen, director of animal rights group PETA, told the Mirror: ‘Katie must not be allowed to acquire any more animals.
‘At least three dogs and one horse have died on her watch in the last few years alone… her attitude is costing wonderful animals their lives.’
However the RSPCA said they couldn’t comment on whether they had received complaints about the reality star’s animals for legal reasons.
Devastated: Rolo was given to Princess (pictured together) as a gift for her 13th birthday just three weeks ago
Dog breeders JRC Bullies took to their Instagram page after animal lovers started questioning them about why Princess was given a dog.
They asked that people stopped sending ‘vile hatred messages’ and said they would post a video explaining why the pup had been gifted to the family on Friday.
They wrote: ‘The outcome of our decision has understandably upset a lot of animal lovers, and I apologise from the bottom of my heart that you have had to read of this tragedy, but we can 100 % assure you all we did everything we could for Rolo moving in with his new family.
Heartbroken: JRC Bullies, who bred Rolo, wrote on their Instagram asking people to stop sending them ‘hate comments’ (left) and also shared Katie’s message of support (right)
Speaking out: The breeders also said they would be explaining why Princess was given a dog in a video planned for Friday as well as thanking their followers for support
‘Yes you might say well I shouldn’t have given the pup but once again I will explain the reason tomorrow for my decision, for now please lay of the text phone calls comments as there is no need.
‘We are a massive family at @JRCbullies we love and devote our lives to our animals and we honestly have so much love for all the people who support us and follow us and have sent their messages in the hundreds today, thank you all so much.’
JRC Bullies also told the Mirror that they were ‘heartbroken’ and had told Katie not to leave the puppy on its own.
Tragedy: The reality TV star and her daughter are said to be distraught after their dog’s death
It is thought that she rang the company to tell them about Rolo’s death, explaining that she was packing in another room at the time. It was also reported that her five-year-old daughter Bunny found the pup.
MailOnline has contacted Katie’s representative and JRC Bullies for comment.
On Wednesday Princess shared a heartbreaking tribute to Rolo, saying she ‘missed him already’ along with a gallery of snaps of her pet.
Princess penned the tribute: ‘Rip baby boy I love you so much u meant everything to me miss you already @katieprice.’
After the news broke on Thursday a source told The Sun: ‘Rolo was found dead by Harvey’s carer and they had to phone Katie to break the news.
Emotional: Princess also took to Instagram to pet a heartbreaking tribute to Rolo, saying she ‘missed him already’ along with a gallery of snaps of her pet
‘I miss him’: The devastated teen shared a gallery of snaps featuring her beloved pet, following news of his tragic death
‘Katie is devastated and heartbroken and had to call Princess and break the news. Everyone’s in floods of tears. It was a tragic accident nobody could have foreseen – it’s no-one’s fault, but Katie can’t stop crying.’
Katie bought little Rolo for her daughter Princess as a 13th birthday present last month, and the teen had already shared videos of her pet’s tricks on her YouTube channel.
It was reported Katie bought the dog after Princess’ dad Peter Andre refused, due to his wife Emily suffering an allergy to dogs.
The tragedy comes just five months after Katie’s pet Alsatian Sparkle died, after she escaped from her home before being hit by a car. It is also thought that one of her horses died in a crash.
It’s the latest pet of Katie’s to sadly pass away, after her dog Queenie also died in 2018 after being hit by a delivery driver.
Passed away: The tragedy comes just five months after Katie’s pet Alsatian Sparkle died, after she escaped from her home before being hit by a car
Sweet: Katie bought little Rolo for her daughter Princess as a 13th birthday present last month, and the teen had already shared videos of her pet’s tricks on her YouTube channel
Katie currently owns another Alsatian named Blade, who sleeps in her room and acts as a protection animal for the household, after being the victim of a carjacking last year.
It also comes after she was seen emotionally leaving the hospital with her son Harvey, 18, after he spent 10 days fighting for his life in intensive care.
A source close to the former glamour model told MailOnline she was ‘delighted’ to be taking her son home after a 10-day long stint in hospital.
Katie recently revealed eight doctors fought to save Harvey’s life after suffering from breathing complications and his temperature rising to 42 degrees.
Support: Katie currently owns an Alsatian named Blade, who sleeps in her room and acts as a protection animal for the household, after being the victim of a carjacking last year