I'm sure this seemed like a good idea at the time -- an example of a young entrepreneur. But surely, there must be someone at People (or it's parent company) that has an ounce of brains and could see what a HORRIBLE idea this was.
Please correct this mistake, and hopefully, somebody in this boy's hometown will also educate him about what an awful thing he is doing.
Beth Kravetz, washington, DC
This is a very sad thing, indeed. Perhaps People should consider an article on what happens to these souls when the owner discovers that this dog does not fit their lifestyle, afterall. Yes, we'll call it Dog People! Are you still going to buy People magazine?
This is an outrage! Puppy farming in this country is already out of hand and all this article has done is promote it... and we have the cheek to call ourselves a nation of animal lovers!!!
There are so many suffering and unwanted cats, dogs, and other pets in US shelters and worldwide. Breeding more and sellling them for profit does not help the millions of animals put to sleep annually in shelters. It stunts the progress of rescues and people that really care about these animals welfare above money. Shame on People magazine for promoting something that exacerbates the pet overpopulation problem and adds to these poor animals pain and eventual deaths. We need to find loving homes for the homeless animals we have as well as spaying and neutering them and People magazine should be promoting that, NOT more breeding!!!!!
no matter how you dress it up, or try to make it cute, this is what keeps puppymills in business. This is not the example I want put out there for other kids to copy. You can also write directly to People magazine at editor@people.com
Society would benefit from People Magazine doing an article on irresponsible breeding and puppy mills which is what exactly leads to our devastating pet overpopulation problem.
Timothy Hampson and his mother should be fully investigated for the puppy mill they are running and they should receive the maximum punishment possible for their senseless doings to these innocent dogs and puppies.
Perhaps People Magazine should do an exlcusive revolving around the conditions of puppmills and the 8 million adoptable U.S. pets euthanized each year due to over population. People...is your head in the sand??
This is horrible! This kid is just a puppy mill in the making! I cannot believe People Magazine would even encourage this. This is not something to be proud of!
People needs to give equal time to those who know and care about the cruelty of puppy mills. And this young "entrepreneur" needs to understand that profit alone is not enough ... ethics need to be part of the equation, and a big part at that.
These puppies are being maltreated and denied the care that would make them valuable house pets. Without that care, these are just more burdens on the animal "Control" facilities around the nation. How is this a solid business plan, and since when does People honor someone who does such a horrible thing?
please warn about puppymills. and how health research should be manditory. And potential homes should be educated on the care and treatment of animals.
Good Grief!!! What is wrong with you at People Magazine? Are your heads in a vaccuum??? This kid is an online dog broker and he is doing nothing but supporting puppy mills.
"Don't See What Your Looking for? We can find almost any puppy!" ~ This is disgraceful, a classic puppymill advertisement. This effort isn't to be admired, but shunned!
This is disgusting. I am appalled by People Mag. WHY publish an article that capitalizes on the mistreatment dog breeding and pure greed of this deviant kid and his family? How disgusting. I think if People won't do a story supporting rescues, we should start a boycot of the magazine and start hitting the advertizers too.
How very Republican of both this "entrepreneur" and People Magazine. This activity is not at all surprising given the ethical and moral bankruptcy this society so freely exhibits.
Have all the relevant health screening checks been done on these poor puppies? Does this child do home checks to make sure the home is suitable? Disgraceful! Shame on the People Magazine for encouraging such irresponsible disregard for puppies welfare.
How appalling to see People magazine promoting the brokering of mass production puppies. Do your research of puppymills and speak up for the multiply bred animals that profit human greed .They can not speak for themselves.
Yorkifriends.com
Shame on People Magazine for encouraging this represensible "business". Do your homework and research what puppymills are all about. I'll never buy another People Magazine again!
We don't need another outlet for puppymillers. Breed clubs are spending thousands of dollars to stop the proliferation of puppy mills and you are promoting them. AARP did the something similiar in April. Maybe that is where Mr. Hampson got the idea.
This is disgusting. This kid, his family and People Magazine should be ashamed of themselves. This is the cruelest form of slavery for profit. Stop this now!
PLEASE DON'T ENCOURAGE PUPPY MILLS SUCH AS THIS! YOU ARE DESTROYING ALL "RESCUE" EFFORTS AND ENCOURAGING PET OVERPOPULATION!!!! HELP US - DON'T WORK AGAINST US!
Live animals are not a commodity like jeans to be bought and sold, sight unseen over the internet. The aquisition of a living thing is a commitment of 10-20 years and requires an interactive mentoring relationship between the buyer and the seller. This is a disgusting disgrace of what it means to be responsible, either as an entrepreneur or a companion animal owner.
No reputable, ethical breeder would ever place a companion in such a manner. Thgis only fosters the need for puppymills and foists 1000's more of poorly bred genetic timebombs on an unsuspecting public.
Please make the public aware of this and retract your irresponsible backing of this business.
This young man & his family should be ashamed of themselves using defenseless animals to line their pockets. People Magazine should think twice before giving jerks like this free publicity. SHAME ON YOU !!!
I wonder how many more "teenage entrepeneurs", or entrepeneurs of any age will decide this is a great way to make money! Thanks People Magazine for adding to a terrible problem! Perhaps
Timothy could start visiting his local shelter to see the results of those who make money selling dogs this way.
How could you think of making this unfeeling monster sound like an enterprising young man? It is digusting that he has no regard for precious life. This mother should be arrested for cruelty to animals or animal endangerment!
To print this article praising someone that is promoting puppy mills is a disgrace! Someone needs to educate this boy about being more responsible with the lives of these poor little puppies. this article irresponsible!
Please read the attached letter and help in our (pet rescuers--those who end up with many of these dogs, trying to get them to some degree of health) effort to educate the public--that just being cute does not mean healthy.
Miniaturizing a dog brings about many health issues. In addition, not screening families wishing to adopt can lead to trouble as well.
Thank you,
Pam Simpson
People Magazine can 'do better work' than this. It is clear that you are uninformed, or misinformed on the issues of puppymills and trafficing live animals.
This kid is certainly not acquiring his dogs from reputable breeders. He is guilty of perpetuating the interests of the backyard breeder.
I'm disappointed in People Magazine.
These aren't inanimate toys, they are physically and mentally fragile living beings that need special care to develop into mentally and physically sound/healthy companions animals. How many die while under his care, or shortly after being delivered to their new owners?
We who do pet rescue shed a lot of tears as we try to undo the harm done by puppy mill breeders and the dog brokers who keep mills in business, such as this teen. Please do publish an article about puppy mills, brokers, dog auctions, and the conditions endured by the dogs who are victims of this awful business.
Just because he is a child doesn't hide the fact that he is a puppymill. People mag should be ashamed of this article. This is animal abuse disguised as enterprise.
This is horrible nad needs to be stopped immediately.
Animal, especiall puppies have feelings and need to be able to trust people, and their first contacts are unfeeling, much less than human beings.
While I support entrepeneurship and commend young individuals for starting so early, let's consider that there are enough animals that we don't need to sell them, nor should we make them an internet commodity. What's next, children?
Please stop this kind of glorifying of the very thing so many of us are trying to prevent through rescue efforts every day. I implore People Magazine to investigate this more thoroughly to see the damage this kid is doing to the animal world and these dogs in particular.
UGH! I cannot believe people! This makes me so angry! I cannot believe they would write a story like this. They need to do some true investigating before writting! Promoting a guy for breeding dogs that will more than likely be ill is totally sick and inhumane!
Great.. just what the world needs, more backyard breeders. Bad enough when adults do it, now we have kids encouraged to also. Maybe we can get him an internship with Larry Flint, too.
How People Magazine can consider this teen an entreprenuer when he is merely exploiting animals is disgusting. I only recently got my renewal from People and this has made my decision for me -- I WILL NOT renew.
