Jennifer Lawrence defended after revealing sad reason she got rid of her dog

Jennifer Lawrence has been fiercely defended after revealing the sad reason she had to rehome her beloved pet.

The Hunger Games star issued fans an update on her dog, a chihuahua iconically named Princess Pippi Longstocking, and shared why she and her hubby Cooke Maroney had to make the seriously tough decision.

The couple, who tied the knot back in 2019, share three-year-old Cy and a second baby who was born in 2024.

Speaking at a Q&A for her latest film, Die My Love, earlier this week (7 January), 35-year-old Lawrence explained that her son was bitten by a dog and, ever since then, she's seen them as a 'threat' to her little ones.

It's not all doom and gloom, however, as the Grammy award-winner did assure fans that the dog is currently living with her parents - so she can visit Princess Pippi Longstocking whenever she pleases!

Jennifer Lawrence has opened up about the reason why she had to rehome her beloved dog (Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / via Getty)

"She's alive, she's with my parents," she said during the Q&A. "She did not like New York. I lived on 1st and 67th just to be near the park for her. After I had a kid, dogs became so scary."

"My son's going up to it, and it's almost like I don't recognise dogs right now," she admitted to the audience. "I just see them as a threat. One of them bit my son, and that just made me want to obliterate every dog ever."

After catching light of the reason behind the rehoming, fans rushed to social media to share their praise for her hard but 'responsible' decision, with one Reddit user writing: "Seems she was a responsible pet owner and mother and did what was best for everyone in the situation?"

The award-winning actress adopted chihuahua Princess Pippi Longstocking back in 2017 (TheStewartofNY / Contributor / via Getty)

"Yes. This was the *correct* thing to do. Even if it hurts emotionally," agreed a second as a third pointed out: "And if it’s with her parents, I assume she can visit whenever and get regular updates, sounds like a great situation considering!"

A fourth chimed in: "Seems like a rational decision after her son was bitten by a dog. And the dog lives with her parents, so she can see her whenever."

"Her dog bit her kid, she rehomed (to her parents, so I mean, best case scenario). This is a normal and responsible thing to do," echoed another.

And a final Reddit user added: "It’s almost like keeping them with her parents isn’t really rehoming it. That’s how my family is."