Ouch?! Sarah Palin's son uses dog as step stool

Ann Oldenburg | USA TODAY

Animal cruelty? Or cute photo?

Sarah Palin sure knows how to stir things up.

The former Alaska governor and mom posted several photos on her Facebook page of her son Trig, 6, standing on top of the family dog. It was a new year's wish that prompted outrage.

"Happy New Year!" Palin wrote.

"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."

Outrage ensued, with commenters worrying about "that poor dog" and accusing Palin of "appalling parenting." While some suggested that everyone was making way too big a deal out of it all, others turned it into a political gripe.

Still, the post, which went up Thursday, has more than 56,000 likes as more than 15,000 people are debating Trig's use and treatment of the dog.

Palin has not responded to the brouhaha.

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