Left-wing political streamer Hasan Piker has come under fire following allegations of mistreating his dog Kaya. The dog is a familiar presence during his broadcasts from his West Hollywood home. Controversy erupted after a clip from his livestream on October 7. The clip appeared to show Piker activating what some viewers claimed was a shock collar on his pet.
Viral clip sparks outrage
Piker, who boasts over three million Twitch followers and millions more across social media, swiftly denied the accusations. He clarified that Kaya wears a vibrating training collar with an attached AirTag, not a shock device. And that the yelp heard during the stream was caused when she accidentally triggered the collar while getting up from her bed.
Despite his explanation, critics remained unconvinced. Online commentators pointed to what they said was a blinking green light typical of a shock collar. An older clip in which Hasan Piker had previously described such devices as «incredibly effective» has resurfaced in th process.
PETA responds to controversy
Animal rights organisation PETA has since issued a statement urging against the use of shock collars.
«Hasan Piker has denied using a shock collar on his dog, and we hope that’s true because shock collars are dangerous and downright cruel,» the group said in a comment to The Hollywood Reporter. «They put dogs at risk of burn wounds, chronic anxiety, and displaced aggression.»
PETA added that positive reinforcement remains a far more humane and effective approach to training, one that «doesn’t betray our animal companions’ trust in us.»
