Why is everyone so afraid to take on puppymill issue? Press, TV (incl Animal Planet), legislators, vets, etc. The public NEEDS to be educated about mills and overpopulation. Please take a stand, People! Over 3 million lives per year depend on it!
You are promoting puppy mills and irresponsible breeding with this article. What this young man is doing is awful, making money from the sale of poorly bred and possibly unhealthy animals. Please show the real story by publishing a fair article about puppy mills, brokers who sell these dogs, pet stores and online sales of these dogs and also the incredible network of rescues and volunteers who donate time and money to save the dogs when they are discarded.
Brokering puppies or any live animal is a shameful occupation, and should not be honored, and other teens/kids need to know this is NOT an acceptable way to make a living! These poor animals probably come from puppy mills and this boy is just giving them more incentive to mistreat these poor dogs and their offspring!
I am appalled that People magazine would promote the BYB's. Also, I have to wonder what type of parent would encourage their child to be so irresponsible.
How could People Mag. run an artical if there is no research done on the effects of puppymills. There has to be alot of information on the results of the abuse on puppies from these so called breeders. Working in the pet industry we see the effects of poor breeding and care of these animals. Why do you suppose you can't buy a puppy at a pet store anymore? Just because you claim to be a breeder doesn't make you a good one. Most breeders are more concerned with lines of the breed and keeping lines healthy. They also do alot of research on the people that buy their puppies. The public should be taught how to buy a puppy, not how to make money on breeding poor quality dogs that end up in shelters or are put to sleep because of health problems or can't be social, ie bitters.
Either People Magazine is blissfully unaware of how puppymills operate and of the sad, tragic results of these businesses or has decided that the appeal of this story in terms of easy profits to be made will help People's circulation. Your only appropriate action is to run a story on puppymills - how they reap enormous profits at the expense of breed health, animal welfare and consumer rip-off.
OPEN YOUR EYES! I'm sick and tired of mopping up messes created by greedy, uncaring people like you. The only one who profits from this "venture" is you - certainly not the "merchandise" your selling!
Let's try to show a little responisbility in journalism. Mas marketing dogs over the net is not an example to be praised but insted one to be condemed.
to allow a child to sell dogs who has no knowledge of the breeds, the genetic make up, the personalites, the importance of health during growth, training issues, i could go on and on. it is so hard to learn about one breed and here he is selling multiple breeds. this type of milling of puppies has got to stop. irresponsbile breeding leads to unhealthy dogs, dogs in shelters, PEOPLE you should be ashamed to allow this in your magazine!!!!
Publishing this article is irresponsible. Please don't promote puppy mills - breeders in it just for the money. Responsible breeders would never sell their puppies this way as they would want to make sure their dogs go to good homes. Shame on you.
Puppy mills are one of the highest forms of animal cruelty. They need to be stopped as soon as possible. Please do research on the breed as well as the breeder you are buying from.
Don't let these puppymills continue this horrid abuse.
Thanks for printing this story. If you hadn't, many of us rescuers, out here rescuing the dogs that Timothy sells to people who only know they want a cute puppy, not realizing how much time and effort and money and love these dogs require, would never have known about Timothy and his stupidity. I am going to do everything within my power to shut him down. Thank you!!
Chris Wells
FluffyButts Rescue Resort
This certainly doesn't promote responsible pet ownership and contributes to the number of unwanted animals that are euthanized every day in this country.
What a terribly unintelligent and cruel thing People Mag has done in promnoting a puppy broker. Brokers acquire their pups from puppy mills. Surely your editor knew that. You should now make amends by giving equal coverage to the horrors of puppymills and brokers.
Where was your research team when they put together this article? Please check the backgrounds of the people you promote! Puppy brokers have very inhumane practices and it is a growing problem in our country especially due to the internet. Adult dogs are housed in horrendous conditons, and are not household pets but breeding machines. Breed type and health are disregarded. Puppies are taken away from their mothers much too young, traumatized and sold to homes that may not be the best home for that breed of puppy. Please look into this matter, and be willing to expose it for what it really is.
As a member of a Keeshond rescue group I can tell you with certainty that most of the dogs we take into rescue come from these puppymills. How People magazine could recognize and give credence to this horrific practice is simple beyond me. Just another reason for never buying or reading this magazine again!
This is absolute ignorance & irrespondsability. People Magazine has lost a reader in me if they fail to open their eyes & educate themselves & their readers on this subject.
I applaud you for putting an article supporting our teens in your magazine, that said I have to wonder where your editor was the day the inclusion of Timothy Hampson's online puppy selling business passed through? Honestly, isn't there a lot to be said for editors doing their jobs in making sure that articles are checked for not only grammar, but for content as well?
We, as American pet owners, need to more pro-active in supporting spaying & neutering, responsible pet ownership, etc., than we do in promoting a business that puts puppies out over the net without thought to said puppies futures, etc..
I would hope to soon see an article in People in regards to responsible pet ownership, care, the plight of the puppies, dogs, kittens & cats that end up euthanized each week in shelters all across America.
As your staff obviously did not thoroughly research this article, please do the right thing and now publish the FULL story. Supporting puppy mills in this manner is a travesty.
I agree with the comments that puppy mills are barbaric and cruel, animals should not be exploited to benefit some kid's pocketbook, shelters are full of dogs being euthanized, this is a sick occupation and shouldn't be applauded. PLEASE give equal time to the other side of the story on behalf of all the unfortunate puppies and older dogs being mistreated.
Anyone without a conscience can get rich in this country by exploiting other living creatures. Please do an article on puppy mills and dogs rescues to show the flip side of "successful breeders." While they get rich, those of us in rescue go broke trying to help the many lives they have brought into the world. There is no glory or honor in exploiting the innocent.
As a reader of People Magazine, I was horrified to see that the magazine's editors felt that this was an appropriate 'honor' for someone who is contributing to the problem of irresponsible dog breeding. This activity results in huge populations of homeless animals, many of whom have serious health problems as a result of this type of 'backyard breeding'. Any city, county or rescue organization can speak to the overwhelming number of animals put down each DAY because of these breeders and method of selling animals. Regardless of magazine's and the young man's intent, the only solution is to educate as many people as possible about this issue. Please do the right thing!
All this has done is make our jobs harder in about a year when all the puppymill babies that were bought as cute cuddly puppies grow up and get dumped at shelters!
you should look before you leap onto a story puppy mills are so offensive. Have you ever looked into how puppymills are actually run and how bad the conditions are in them. I for one will never buy another Mag from your company
This is appaling, pups should never be born just to be sold on, what about the ethics, breed standards, and checking new homes. This is puppy farming in a bad way, I cannot credit your magazine for printing this article. Always thought you were a 'cut above' this sort of thing.
I agree with Signature #1320 and others who have writen you re: the article on "Teen Titans". Please give the "educated" dog community equal time for the realistic knowledge of puppymills to be available. Thank you.
I am shocked and appalled that People magazine would feature a teenager who makes money selling puppies without regard to their welfare. The flip side of this is those of us who give our hearts, time, and money to rescue these dogs and cats later on when they're abandoned or turned over to shelters or euthanized. People magazine, you should be ASHAMED.
PUPPY MILLS ARE HEARTLESS AND BARBARIC. ONCE THESE PEOPLE ARE FOUND ACTION SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN, HEAVELY FINED AND NEVER BE ABLE TO BREED ANY ANIMAL AGAIN.
Hopefully People magazine will read this petition and realize their mistake. The very least they can do is a follow up piece educating the public about the horror of puppymills. The editors of this magazine should be held accoutable for not only allowing, but promoting, animal abuse. And this is abuse.
Where was your judgement?? Please do the right thing and write a follow-up article to bring attention to horrors of puppymills. I would hope your article would also educate people how to respect and properly treat animals!
This is irresponsible journalism at its worst. Your article is a slap in the face to everyone who rescues, fosters and adopts homeless animals. I have worked in rescue for five years, and have witnessed numerous "cuddly puppies" aka puppy mill discards dying in shelters by the hundreds. Not the mention the thousands of other dogs who die in this country every day because people are more interested in the $600 toy breed of the month than in giving an animal who deserves it a home. Who will take responsiblity for this? Certainley not the puppy brokers (by your words, the "entrepeneurs") who care about nothing except making a few bucks. This teenager is not practicing entrepenuership. He is practicing exploitation, and all for the worst reasons. Disgraceful. You (and he) should be ashamed.
I'm disgusted that people make a profit from selling innocent animals with nary a care. I am also disgusted with People Magazine and will NEVER buy or read another issue again until they apologize for condoning puppy mills.
You are giving this kid "kudos" for the extravagant breeding and selling of canines over the internet? So many of our breeds run rampant with inherited diseases and responsible breeders work to breed out heartbreaking and preventable diseases and find proper homes for their puppies. To promote someone as a success who breeds his minature dogs like rats and dumps them for dollars is reprehensible. Please feature an article to highlight the RESPONSIBILITIES that should accompany breeding canines and all of the thousands of dogs who are killed annually in shelters.
Sincerely,
Lory Jenkins
I would have thought that Peopple amg would have put more thought into the information they release to the public.
They should now set the record with a story about puppy mills and how much damage they do.
I hope this young man and his family can learn from all of this and try to right the wrong they have done.
Hopefully the animals they have sold will come to no ill will.
It would be more responsible of your Mag. to find the breeders he is buying his dogs from. You will find they are from puppy mills. You should also run another article stating the facts of what happens in these mills. Breeding dogs for profit should not be encouraged by a world wide publication. I would like to see an appology to your readers for the lack of reserch actually done for this article.
an estimated 6-8 millions animals are euthanised inshelters every year in the US, and we are promoting puppymill breeding practices why?? End the abuse!
This has to be stopped!!! How can People Magazine support such a cruel thing!!! I wish I could save all those poor dogs from that little boy who only wants to make a quick buck and could care less about the well being of these innocent animals!
Anyone who promotes the horror that is a puppymill should go to puppy mill to see it first hand then go to the pound and look at all the "expensive" purebred dogs that are killed there every day. We need to shut the puppymills down not promote them. I have pulled plenty of dogs out of pounds so they wouldn't be killed. They have all been purebreds that have purposely been bred by humans. To promote puppymills is irresponsible no matter if its a teen or or adult. Please print something about the terrible things that actually go on at puppymills so that people know where their cute cuddly puppy came from.
I hope that with the feedback you receive about this article that your magazine will now do a story telling about the horrors of puppymills and how we can help shut them down. This young man needs to be educated on how he is contributing to the suffering of millions of dogs!!!
Your article on Teen entrepreneurs is well conceived, however you show poor judgement to include Timothy Hampson's venture, Cuddlepuppy.com. Puppy mills (and this venture is only a cute version of one) are irresponsible and perpetuate needless suffering. People Magazine would do justice to its readership if it would acknowledge this error in judgement in it's editorial page, and by featuring an article which exposes the problems with puppy-mills. And why not assign a resources to hiring a qualitied student to do a responsible, well-conceived longitudinal research study on the fate of the actual cuddlypuppy miniatures. If this study is designed and done properly, you will likely discover that many of these pups have to endure tumultuous and problematic lives.
THIS MUST ABSOLUTELY BE STOPPED, , SHAME, SHAME ON YOU AND PEOPLE MAGAZINE,THIS IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE , LETS TAKE ACTION PEOPLE MAGAZINE, RUN A STORY TO STOP PUPPY MILLS, AND SELLING OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE EDUCATE PEOPLE AND REVERSE THIS HORROR.
This is a discrace and unfair to the animals. We must speak for them since they cannot do it for themselves. Instead of advertising puppy mills you need to do articles of animal rescues as well as animal cruelty. People need to be educated on animal care and you need to look at how many "pets" are euthanized every day. Shame on you People Magazine for printing such garbage!
The other teens in this story should be APPALLED, that People Magazine would EVEN consider this boy (and his mom)in the same catagory. The only thing 'budding' is another online puppy mill !!!!
Does this boy even realize that he's contributing to the puppy mill problem? Maybe he and People Magazine should take a visit to one to see how those poor dogs have to live!
I have been working with animals/petstores for 4 years now. I have not found one that deserves the attention and praise this boy has gotten. If one person at People has seen the things I have, there would have been no article, or it would have been reprimanding him rather than praising him. Please research before you write another article like this.
This is the most disgusting article I've ever seen. This is the most cruel and disgusting treatment of dogs. Puppymillers should be scorned, not encouraged! Shame on you, People Magazine!!!
