I've long been a subscriber to People and as a person extremely interested in animal welfare and ending puppymills, was horrified to read the article praising the efforts of Tim Hampson and his own personal puppymill
Shame on Timothy Hampson & his mother and shame on People Magazine for lauding a teenage boy and his mother for peddling puppies on the internet. As person who has been involved in the rescue of dogs for nearly 20 years, I can only say that articles like this give me as many nightmares as the puppy mills themselves. Timothy and his mother should put their efforts into abolishing puppy mills. But then, there is no money in that for them.
How you can even give this teen the time of day.....is beyond me...taking pure bred dogs and breeding them with other breeds just to sell them is absolutely terrible. We breed to improve the breed standards.....particularl y in health. How can you be so short sighted????????
Shame on you Timothy Hampson and People magazine!This kid needs to be shut down and People needs to run an article on the horrors of puppy mills and about the courageous people that try to save the innocent victims.
Breeding dogs is a privilege and carries great responsibility. These individuals need education in how to act responsibly. It was poor judgement to write-up this story as a 'good' thing. How far off the mark can an editor be? Very disappointing
Many of these "cuddly puppies" will be dropped off at shelters and if they are LUCKY, will be cuddled one last time by some kind animal control officer as they are taken to be euthanized. There is no good reason for promoting irresponsible breeding in a popular national magazine. Please, PEOPLE, show the other side of the story!
It can be easy when running a business to start thinking of animals as inventory rather than as lovely creatures that deserve our protection and proper placement
What is PEOPLE "thinking" by putting an article like this in their magazine??!!!! I have 5 rescued dogs, 3 from petfinder.org, 2 from local pet rescue groups. I can testify to the enormity of the stray/abandoned/abused/ne glected situation so many animals are subjected to because of the selfishness and greediness of people like those who discard a pet without thought to it's fate, and those who care nothing for a life but only for the money that selling that life brings to their breeding business. My sister is also VERY involved in the rescue of Schnauzers and French bulldogs in the Chicago area and this is another reason, hearing the sad stories of some of these discarded pets, that an article like this one in PEOPLE angers me so much. I plan to forward this to my daughter, who has 2 rescued dogs, and a subscription to PEOPLE and know she will cancel her subscription. I will NEVER read another copy of PEOPLE even if it is free. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do not suggest that the "brokering" of puppies is a good entrepreneurial idea, for anyone, even less teenagers. The poor dogs and puppies suffer in puppy mills and pet "shops" all so someone can make a buck. Why not use the power of "People" to expose this ugly industry, and show what goes on behind the scenes at the puppy mills and dog auctions? Your magazine could be a fantastic educational tool for those who are uninformed.
We need to be showing people that shelters are overflowing with unwanted pet, the kind that come from backyard breeders and puppymills - placess where the cruelest of conditions exists for the animals. Don't encourage this kind of irresponsible breeding.
In this day and age with all the pets that are being euthanized because there aren't enough homes to go around it's disgusting and unethical to encourage anyone to breed dogs. You should be more interested in doing an article on all the people that work in pet rescue to try to find homes for pets that are already "thrown away" because there are too many. Shame on you PEOPLE Magazine. Do a little research on the subject of puppy mills along with the pet overpopulation. Go to an animal control shelter and watch what happens to the surplus pets. Shame on you!!!!!!!
What would one expect from a magazine like yours. No resposibility at all. Poor dogs are dying everyday largely due to BYB. What a terrible example to set for our young people. There are BYB out there breeding to sell pups and then discarding the mothers in the street. The dog I rescued is one such female dog. I will never buy your magazine. I will tell everyone I know not to buy your magazine.
Because of breeders, millions of homeless puppymill "products" are killed each year. People Magazine is disgraced by this promotion of exploitation of puppies by a stupid young man and his equally stupid family member helpers.
The "Little Prince" was told by the Fox: "You must remain (forever) responsible for that which you have tamed." Puppy milling is not responsible behavior.
Please educate this young gentleman and his mother to the 1,000 of dogs that are put down on a daily basis, that need homes.
Maybe if he put his energy into saving these animals instead of concentrating on putting more puppies into the public that probable 60% end up at a shelter or out on the street.
Instead of honouring this teenager the magazine should showing him and his family up for what they really are, greedy and heartless! hope they close down very soon
Teaching our Children to love and respect animals, can create a new Generation of caring. Teaching them to use Animals for profit making, MAKES ME SICK...Shame on this MOTHER!
People involved in animal rescue know the horror behind these cute puppy faces. Help us to stop this attrocity by running a story about the suffering behind the scenes at these puppy mills.
It never ceases to amaze me how cruel and thoughtless people can be to make a dollar. Well I guess they've got a government and media as a good role model, don't they? Neither will step in to prevent this sort of stuff, on the contrary, it's the American corporate way, and would be applouded for being an enterprising young man,..watch out, he may one day turn out to be the president!! Corporate media has no conscience. People is owned by dome corporation that probably supports companies that do animal experimentation and the Iraqi war! So that's what you are up against...
Where are those puppies coming from? Certainly NOT a breeder who cares about where their puppies end up. Puppy millers are the scum of the earth...and here is People magazing saying how great it is that this kid is making tons of money by selling puppies on the internet. WHERE are these puppies coming from? I am appalled that you would even print that in your magazine.
I am sad that in this day and age, an intelligent and informative publication such as People Magazine would actually be contributing to the exploitation of animals as a "product" for consumption. They are living, breathing, feeling beings who deserve something better than being overbred...homeless...thr own on the streets. Just as I would no sooner go to a Doctor who was practicing surgery at the age of 13...I wouldn't look to a teenager for years of breeding expertise either. Instead of promoting this kind of behavior....maybe you should do an article on teens using their lives to save other lives, possibly at animal shelters or through rescues. A little fore-thought on this article would have done a world of good.
so now let us teach young people how to be a puppymill early in life and allow a world wide mag.print his story of mill for profit at the paws of young innosent puppies.shame on you.
This is just another puppymill outlet. How could anyone think this is a good idea? It's just another way to make a quick buck. Help stop puppymills! Maybe you could have an article exposing what puppymills really are.
As a volunteer with a New England rescue organization, I am appaled by this article. People should correct their error by publishing an article regarding the thousands of animals who suffer at the hands of puppy mill breeders and the people that help keep them in business.
It is sad that PEOPLE magazine chose to honor a child who is contributing to one of the most serious problems in the country--the pet overpopulation that results in the killing of between 10,000 and 15,000 pets EVERY DAY because they are homeless. The way in which this child sells dogs is typical of puppy mills, and to honor him as a "teen titan" is a reflection of ignorance on your part. It's time for a retraction, followed by a story of a child who is dedicated to solving the problem, not contributing to it.
People Magazine really should support the shelters & rescue efforts for puppies & dogs that have been tossed aside. To bring more business to this boy is disgraceful!
I checked out the webite and while you suggest petfinder before buying a puppy you are selling the puppies unaltered and suggesting that they be spayed/neutered. While you may be getting you puppies from reputible breeders by allowing the general public to purchase unaltered dogs you promote unsafe and backyard breeding. I reviewed your entire site and while you offer a guarantee it is for reimbursement or replacement! What about those that have defects and the people don't want them - Do you take the dogs back, place them with a reliable rescue or once they are "sold" is that it. These babies should be protected for life so that they do not end up being bounced around from place to place or being destroyed for not being "perfect" dog. This you man needs to that education farther and spend some legitimate time with one or more rescues to see what happens to all those "cuddly puppies".
It is totally disgusting that the press would put this in print in a positive manner. Shouldn't they be exposing this kid AND his parents for the huge WRONG they are doing to these animals?
It is obvious to me the people reporting the wonderful business have not had the experience of owning, vetting or rescuing these animals once they have left the puppy mill. They need to visit unannounced so they can see the deplorable conditions these beautiful animals are confined to.
There are many sides to any story. It is only fair to give equal print to a story on rescue amd or the puppy mill issue. I am really surprised that People would print a story like this.
Instead of advertising 'business' abilities of this boy and his mother, People magazine should rather publish a paper on people who are trying to rescue animals after they happen to be thrown out of their homes, or about hurricane shelters (in Florida for example) which don't allow owners to bring their pets with them...
Puppy mills keep me in business of rescuing small dogs who because of their overbreeding and who have health issues wind up with me and who have extensive vet bills. Where are the responsible breeders who care about their dogs, not the $$$ signs.
Just when I thought the general public had grasped the idea that these types of breeders were 'bad'...and now this endorsement of them by a nationally read magazine. Nice going People.
While I am pro-capitalism, this is one area that your reporters failed to look a little further into the situation. Granted, this is not drugs, porn or the like, but certainly does not deserve the attention you people gave it. Obviously, a full report on backyard breeders and puppy mills should be instituted immediately to show exactly the life these dogs live; as well as the unsuspecting owners who live with illlnesses, possible behavior issues, etc. The only thing this article promotes is to pitch this as the "ideal" way to make a buck. Wrong.
It's scary that parents are teaching their kids irresponsibility at such an early age. This kid will grow up to care about nothing but money and probably ruin many lives, both peoples and animals, along the way. Shame on People!!!
I have been involved in puppy mill rescue and it is horrible that a national magazine would support efforts like this just to make the almighty dollar. Think of the suffering next time not the cute fluffy puppy! The breeding parents are horribly neglected but no one sees them.
The last thing People should encourage is backyard breeding and puppy mills. Please counter this article with a teen who volunteers time at animal shelters and rescue organizations.
This is absolutely disgusting that People would show this kids' puppymill as an accomplishment in entreprenuering! How about people feautres an darticle showing the statistics of unwanted/homeless pets in this country!
