SHAME ON YOU People mag. Encouraging the wholesaling of puppies as a *buisness venture* Do you know MOST of these poor puppies are sickly, and thier parents are kept in rabbit cages and fed the cheapest fodd, NO vet care, and MADE to breed as often as they can, before they are *disposed of*?? Do you know that the buyers giving this kid money for these unheakthy dogs OFTEN have the heartbreak of massive vet bills, early death, or they end up dumping the dogs bc they bite, are too shy, or just aren't what was dreamed of. Now imagine YOUR pet in a chicken coop, in the cold, walking on a wire bottom w/ little or NO food or SHELTER, for the rest of its life. People mag, YOU MADE A MISTAKE, in glamorizing this, and probably did HUGE damage bc people will now think small dogs are a *BUISNESS* to get into. These are loving, living, feeling pets, and I bet your article wil put THOUSANDS of dogs in pounds in the future bc idiots will only see DOLLAR signs. I will NEVER buy your maga again.
I will never buy People magazine ever if you do not run an article explaining what this 16 yr old is doing - he supports puppymills and brokers -- enough unwanted dogs in the world now, he is just adding to it. RESCUE is the name of the game.
When will the public wake up & see that our precious little dogs are to be nurtured, treasured, and treated as family member?! Not a retail commodity like a pair of jeans!
How can you do this to all the hard working breeders???? You only need to look at where this kid is getting his product and know that it is WRONG. We work for years trying to breed good dogs and then this happens...SHAME on you People magazine...
How about doing an article on those involved in rescue!! Of course we don't make money on it but then if a teenager were to open a call girl service or sell drugs and then call themselves an entrepreneur would there be an article on this??
I am very disappointed that you would be so callous as to highlight this when we have a major petoverpopulation in the U.S. You should be ASHAMED PEOPLE!! GEt yuour facts right...
It is a difficult job for someone who has a real interest in their chosen breed to try and make sure that their pups go to suitable homes, but when someone like this sets themselves up as a middle man for profit, do they care as to where the pups go so long as the potential owner has the cash. Too many end up in rescue.
Did anyone notice that this person accepts credit card payments through paypal? This is a complete VIOLATION of paypal's TOS (terms of service)agreement, which prohibits accepting payments for live animals. If enough of us complain to paypal.com, maybe they'll take away their account!
What this young man is doing is neither admirable or cute. No reputable breeder would sell his/her pups to a broker. This leaves puppy mills and backyard breeders as a source for the dogs being sold. Ask anyone in a dog rescue group about the deplorable conditions these dogs are subject to. No cute and clever website can overcome the promoting of dogs being bred and sold in this way. The only redeeming feature of this website is the request that people check petfinder. com to possible adopt from a shelter or rescue group before purchasing a puppy.I will not purchase or read another People magazine until I know it contains an article about the horrors of puppy mills.
Please consider printing an opposition to your promotion of Mr. Hampson's business. Educate the public on what a practice such as his produces: the over population and poor health/standard of many dog breeds.
I think its's great that a 16 year is motivated to have his own business but NOT THIS!!!!!! Perhaps your magazine should publish an article on the work rescues do due to irresponsible breeders!
I will ban People Magazine if they don't support this additional article. I am a magazine purchaser and I suggest the rest of you do the same and start spreading the word.
Praise for puppy brokering in People Magazine?! I hope to see People not only do an article on the very cruel reality of puppy mills, but also do a piece on a true "Teen Titan" by profiling any of the young people who VOLUNTEER their free time in animal rescue caring for the dogs that eventually trickle down to animal shelters from brokers like this young man and his appalling online business. Time for me to re-think my next subscription renewal - none of my money will go to a publication condoning any aspect of puppy mills.
People Magazine needs an education on puppymills. I challenge you to do some research! Get the REAL facts and then write a responsible article that sheds light on the damage that puppymills inflict.
People Magazine - shame on you - the almighty dollar comes ahead of common sense for you as a publishing company. RESEARCH YOUR STORIES BEFORE ENDORSING PIMPS! - you know putting two dogs together to make money = PIMP. Take a hard look at what "puppy mills' really are before encouraging a kid to add more "bodies" to the pet overpopulation explosion.
Who is going to care for these puppies when/if the families no longer can? Will this "teen titan" take them back and care for them until the end of their lives?
Your inclusion of puppy broker Timothy Hampson in a "Teen Titans" article was ignorant, uninformed and destructive to the efforts of those who are trying to STOP the cruelty and abuse which is the puppy mill industry. Please allow an article in your magazine about puppy mills and rescue dogs to educate the people about this horrendous industry.
All the objectionable BYB practices aside (since we have covered those already), I'm sure with the proper education, this enterpreneurial teen can understand that dog breeding, when done the "right" way, is not a lucrative business. Responsible breeders are lucky if they "break even" from the sale of puppies from a litter, what with the health care costs for the pregnant mother and her litter, the expense of finding appropriate homes for the pups and feeding/caring for them until that time comes, etc. Of course, you can sell cuddly puppies until the cows come home and take home a few bucks, but does that really make you feel good about yourself? Does it really look good on your resume that you contributed to the overglut of puppies waiting to die at the shelter?
Just another way parents neglect their responsibilities in raising their kids. Instead of teaching her son respect and responsibility towards other creatures who inhabit earth, she's helping abuse and exploit these poor puppies for the "Almightly Buck" -- just STOP!!!!
I volunteer to raise funds to rehome rescue Weimaraners that are often the products of puppymills. The proprietor of CuddlyPuppy is promoting breeding of dogs with out regard to their health or temperment, and is placing them in homes whose sole qualification is the buyer's ability to pay. Even livestock is bred with regard to health!! Dogs are companion animals and need to be placed with responsible owners- the alternative is millions of unwanted animals that are abandoned after the novelty wears off. Shame on you People Magazine for promoting such practices!!!!!
With literally millions of dogs and cats euthanized in Animal Shelters across the United States each year, it is senseless to continue to breed hybrids when there are already so many sitting in shelters needing a chance at life and a family to love them.
I question the validity of the young man’s business. Teenagers today don't need their mom's to help them with web sites. It's much more likely that he's helping her with her business by being the "front" and as a "child" to hopefully increase the business with his youth appeal.
I am disheartened by People Magazine and their presentation of this story. Much more research should have gone into the "homeless pets" issues so glaringly obvious in this country.
I would like to see People publish a whole issue or at least a major portion of a monthly edition, including cover, to help educate the public and reveal that they care about more than the dollars they make. Their readership would be thankful for the information.
I'm shocked that People Magazine didn't have the common sense to look further into this matter before making it a puff piece. The teen and his mom need to be educated on puppy mills and byb's, from the sounds of it. I hope People's article did not give them any business.
I am a shelter walker. I walk the shelters once a week. It is just sad to see all the purebreds in there. It is sad to see any animal in there, for that matter. It is very irresponsible to breed animals for money. There are thousands dying everyday, due to an over-population of animals in this country.
I would think that true journalistic professionalism would lead a publication such as "People" to be just as quick to feature the other side of the coin and publish an article focusing on the negative side of puppymilling. Please do so.
WOW....how exciting to promote the uncaring practice of selling ill breed animals for the sake of the all mighty dollar. People magazine...why don't you do a follow up story on what has happened to the thousand of animals sold...you could start by looking in any anilmal shelter in the U.S. SHAME ON YOU!!!
This article was outrageous, about the teenager merchant, hawking puppies from mills and back-yard-breeders. Please research and print article about puppy mills, and dogs in shelters and pounds everywhere resulting from many of those puppies.,
I think that the teenager in this article should be ashamed of himself. I agree that people mag. should allow an article about rescue dogs and puppymills to be put into their magazine.
Because these are teenagers it's suddenly ok to indescriminately breed dogs in an already overpopulated country?
Just because his mother doesn't see the issue for what it is (many wouldn't, thinking it's "Cute") it doesn't mean that People should not bother to show the responsible side and what is best practice. (ie: Spay/Neutering animals at first opportunity)
We have enough homeless dogs out there. Backyard breeders need shut down, not promoted!
I am writing to you to express my anger and disbelief that you would publish an article highlighting
the young boy who is making a fortune selling puppies . He is not a " young entrepreneur" but rather
a Puppy "broker" who is supporting puppymills and backyard breeders . As an Administrator of a Internet Discussion board , we try to educate people to buy puppies from Reputable breeders . These breeders breed to better the breed and are selective to who their puppies go to and they do this for many reasons . Any "breeder" who would sell puppies only to have them re-sold by a broker is not only SICK but is adding to the already astounding number of unwanted pets . The young boy
probably does not think he is doing anything wrong , but for you to glamourize his "Entrepreneurship" without researching the ramifications of such " Puppy Brokering" is a disgrace. I fear that you have
put the idea that this is a good money maker into many more heads now , which will only increase
the puppymills to produce more and more pups to meet demand....a truly sad day .
Did you go to the teens home and check the facility? How many animals does he have? Are the facilitie clean? Are the dogs and the puppies in a proper enviornment? Are they loved? There are so many questions about this teens activities. Does the teen have the knowledge that it take years to obtain about responsible dog breeding, dog and pet ownership, care and on and on? Is the teen making breeding decisions on temperament and health? Unless all of these things and a lot more was investigated, your article was irresposible.
Shame on People for promoting puppy mills and income gained from the suffering of animals - the puppies are cute, but where are their parents? Stuffed in a small wire cage where they live their lives, producing puppies. Very disappointing, People.
I can't believe in this day and age that People magazine would allow such an article. I went to cuddlypuppy.com and this is nothing more than a puppy mill. Disgusting! Plus if you read his guarantee almost anything can make it null and void so there really is no guarantee. Just looks good on paper. This is NOT the kind of opportunities I want my children to follow. Luckily they don't read People magazine. why don't you do any article on selling human babies for the black market. That would be just as bad. Cuddly puppy says nothing about temperaments of parents or puppies, pedigrees, parents of the puppies, health checks of parents and puppies and the numerous other things realiable and good breeders do to insure healthy puppies are being produced. On top of that he is selling MUTTS - mix breeds for outragous prices. I can go to any shelter and adopt a peekapoo, "minature" rottweiler, what ever he wants to call these and get them for nothing. Are the people that dumb that they will spend that much money so they can have the first and maybe the only of a certain "breed" that someone made up? This is absolutely ridiculous. People magazine should be ashamed.
Shame on you People! Holding this young man's 'success' up for others to emulate is nothing short of disgusting. While this young man and his family are making money on an industry that promotes suffering, thousands of young people across the country selflessly volunteer their time at local shelters and rescues, caring for the unwanted animals that this 'entrepreneur' perpetuates. These volunteers give tender care and affection to these castoff animals, hoping to give them a chance for adoption into a 'forever' home. Often they see their innocent charges destroyed due to lack of homes and shelter space. These people are the true heroes, not this greedy, thoughtless young man! If money is the only criteria you use to determine who to hold up for applause, there are plenty teenage drug-dealers across the country. Do you plan to give them free advertising as well?
This is horrible...He says he cares about the puppies health, that is a bunch of bull. He is running a mill, plan and simple. For people magazine to endorse this kid is a disgrace. I use to enjoy reading the magazine. People magazine has lost one reader here.
Pets are not products. An article on puppy mills and pet overpopulation needs to be published immediately to let readers know what this boy and his family are doing is WRONG.
As a member of a rescue group I know the horrors of puppy mills . People needs to show the public that running a puppy mill is nothing to be proud of .
Responsible and loving breeders care where every pup goes. The pups are like children. No responsbile breeder would sell "sight unseen" to people over the internet without interviews ect. Unfortuantly this kind of "smart money making idea" will flood our rescues with more unwanted animals. People who don't do breed research will see a cute cuddly puppy and compulsivly purchase one. This is just a shamless way for a kid to make money. I urge People to get the facts about mills, and the dogs that us rescues get from them. If people could see what the parents of thier precious pup looked like they would be sick.
This child is exploiting small living creatures for monetary gain. I can not understand a mother who would allow this sort of behavior. Her role should be to channel his entrepreneurial efforts in more humane directions. Both the child and the mother are a great disappointment to me.
I envy the young boy's desire to make money and earn a living.... but must it be at an expense of the life of a dog for him to learn how to make a buck?
I blame his parents for mis-directing the kid's "drive" and allowing him to take such an easy approach to financial gain.
I would support an article that would promote good breeders and what length we go to in order to ensure good puppies for our pet buyers. We have far too many unloved and unwanted animals out there today. Does this youngster have a "first take back, buy back policy?" Does he require that none of his animals that are nolonger wanted be surrendered to a shelter, but sent back to him at his expense? At which point he is committed to find a new suitable home for the puppy!
Thank you for listening and I hope this has done some good.
Funny that if you are rich People magazine will advertixe your puppymill for you. Just a note in case People didn't know puppymills dont care about the animals and do not care for them they are just breeding machines so this little turd can get rich off the abuse of animals.
This is disgusting! THe health of any animal is the first and foremost concern to all animal owners. He is most likely crossbreeding inherent health concerns from one breed into another. He MUST be stopped and MUST face legal penalties. How could anyone ethically support a pupppy mill in the name of entrepreneurship? Horrifying!
