Sarah Palin on Monday continued to defend a photo she posted on Facebook of her son using her pet dog Jill Hadassah as a step stool.

The photo elicited a negative response from PETA, launching a small battle between the former Alaska governor and the animal rights group.

After initially defending the photo on Saturday, Palin penned a statement for NBC’s “The Today Show” on Monday.

“They’re not attacking me because I showed people a special needs child and his happy, healthy, beloved service dog; they’re attacking me because, well, I’m me. So what’s new? PETA throws raw meat in front of their attack dogs and says sic ‘em, and we have a choice in how to react to these kind of haters who’ll keep on hating,” Palin wrote.

She also posted a letter from the pet dog of Kevin Scholla, host of Mama Grizzly Radio’s “The Palin Update,” to her Facebook page.

“That Trig kid was standing on you I see. Well that hit home! I have a six year old friend too. She’s pretty gentle with me. Girls seem to be that way. But she has this brother. He’s four and he reminds me of Trig a bit,” the letter from Scholla’s dog Rex to Palin’s dog reads. “But if you think you have it bad with Trig on your back, listen to this. He makes me play Batman every day! I have to be Ace the Bat Hound!”

“Have a great winter in Alaska. We are both fortunate to be spoiled pups in loving homes,” the letter continues. “Oh, and don’t listen to these people saying bad things about the picture of Trig on your back. They have a political agenda. I’m not sure what that means but the guy in the house I mentioned earlier told me that.”