Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin started her New Year on a wrong foot. The wrong foot actually belongs to her 6-year-old son Trig, who has Down syndrome, who used the back of their dog as his stepping stone so he could wash dishes.

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Palin found the scene cute that the little boy was resourceful so he could help in household chores, but she made the mistake of posting the photo on her Facebook account and using it to send her New Year's greeting which reads:

"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."

The image became viral on social media and her post triggered a lot of negative reactions, especially from pet lovers and animal welfare groups.

Gail R.D., a veterinary technician for over two decades, chided the former Republican vice presidential candidate for lacking respect or compassion for animals. "Do you realize how painful that is for your dog?" she asked.

Many corrected her that the dog should not have been used as a stepping stone by Trig.

"You know that had to hurt that dogs back its spine," commented Heather Fiorino.

Kathy Stevens concluded, "The Palins clearly have no respect for animals, you don't step on animals ... period!"

Poly C., a dog trainer, pointed out that many children are hospitalized doing what Trig did, and it is the animal that is blamed and even gets euthanized. But the harsher words were reserved for the ex-governor. "Most irresponsible of all? Stand back and take pictures!" she wrote.

Not surprisingly, PETA had a similar reaction. Ingrid Newkirk, the president of the animal rights protection group, said, "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."

Stacey Gaskin said using a dog as a step stool is adorable "if you're a sociopath."

However, some netizens came to Palin's defense.

Jobe M. pointed out that the dog would have moved, snapped at the boy or wouldn't pose perfectly for the photo if it were hurt.

Danielle Billings Malchus agreed that the dog couldn't care less.

Some even saw in the photo a reflection of Palin's politics, which Marsha Armstrong describes as: "Teaches him he can use anything to step all over to get what he wants. Like mother like son."

But 63,139 people actually gave the photo a thumbs up, while another 10,067 shared the controversial image which would likely add to the collection of Sarah Palin lines that became famous during the 2008 campaign.

TagsSarah Palin, animal rights