A clip showing Hasan Piker’s dog Kaya suddenly yelping on stream prompted accusations that the political streamer used a shock collar on his pet. The moment spread fast on social media and drew sharp criticism from viewers concerned about animal welfare.
Hasan later addressed the controversy by showing a collar on stream. He described it as a vibration-only device used for training. But viewers scrutinized screenshots of the collar and pointed out what appeared to be taped-over prongs and an obscured model number.
Critics argued the device resembled shock-enabled collars based on its visible features. Some noted the presence of spring-loaded metal contacts typically associated with electric stimulus devices. The covered model number raised additional questions about why that information was hidden.
Democratic content creator Suzanne Lambert posted a video condemning the alleged use of a shock collar. She characterized what happened as animal abuse and called for accountability. Lambert emphasized that keeping a dog stationary for content creation through electric stimulus crosses ethical lines.
Asmongold aired Lambert’s video during a recent stream and offered limited commentary. He acknowledged he lacks expertise in dog training. He added that shock collars should probably be illegal, but otherwise let Lambert’s argument play out for his audience.
The reaction kicked off a debate about the ethics of using shock devices on pets. Many animal welfare organizations oppose shock collars and advocate for positive reinforcement training methods instead. Several jurisdictions have restricted or banned their use entirely.
Twitch prohibits content featuring serious animal abuse, but training tools exist in a gray area. No platform action has been publicly announced regarding what happened. The controversy continues to generate discussion about proper pet care standards among content creators.
