I am very disappointed to see that you published such an irresponsible and poorly ressearched article. I will not buy People magazine again, and I will be sure to spread the word.
this is absolutely disgusting. for you magazine to include this person in the same catagory of the young entrepreneus is an insult to the rest of the kids, not to mention the fact that you are endorsing one of the most hideous businesses in the country.
I've always enjoyed PEOPLE magazine, but I am surprised that someone on your staff didn't realize the story behind this child's perceived success. Please try to counter your misleading information with a thorough article on the horror of puppy mills. You could make a difference in the minds of your readers.not to mention just the puppymills but what about where these dogs and up...it is a sickining to see how these dogs are cared never knowing the true meaning of companioship, or the love that a humane has to offer,they are kept in cages and kennels...in thier own filth...shame on you!!!!!!
I hope this drives home the need to really research an article before you glorify the subjects. This kid is nothing more than the front man for a puppy mill ... a real disappointment out of your magazine.
Our Miniature Schnauzer Club constantly has to rehome these dogs that are purchased on impulse. By breeding "tiny" dogs from the standard of perfection of their breed, you not only reduce the size of the animal, but introduce many health concerns from the genetic standpoint.
This was an unconscionable article to print without proper research on what happens to these "designer" dogs after their purchase.
Vera Potiker, a reputable breeder of Miniature Schnauzers for 36 years.
This is totally disgraceful! This kid doesn't even know who these puppies are going to! For all he knows, they could wind up in someone's soup or sold to someone who only wants to torture it!
How wonderful and heart warming if you would publish stories on how animals can be rescued and adopted, versus people exploiting animals for a profit for nothing more than their own monetary gain ! Please People Magazine, redeem yourselves !
By all means, highlight the positive accomplishments of teens. Please do not confuse that with thoughtless sale of live animals over the internet! This child and the irresponsible breeders who supply his "goods" cannot care about the treatment of their puppies -- responsible breeders take great pains to ensure that their puppies are well-bred and are adopted into loving and caring homes. Breed clubs in the US frequently require breeders to have a life-long commitment to their puppies. Casting these animals as "commodities" undermines the progress which has been made to ensure that animals are treated humanely. I urge you to tell the other side of this sad story -- by showcasing the results of this thoughtlessness by exploring the legacy of puppy mills and the heroic work done by rescue organizations.
The last thing this country needs is more puppy mill or like operations! Please become aware of, and educate the public, that this needs to be stopped--not promoted as an entreprenurial initiative.
I've always enjoyed PEOPLE magazine, but I am surprised that someone on your staff didn't realize the story behind this child's perceived success. Please try to counter your misleading information with a thorough article on the horror of puppy mills. You could make a difference in the minds of your readers.
I will NEVER again buy another issue of People magazine. I am sickened by the thoughts of pain and suffering that defenceless animals are forced to endure in puppy mills. The "entreprenuer" you patted on the back in your "Teen Titans" issue is perpetuating the cycle of abuse. SHAME ON YOU!
Please allow an article to be published about puppymills, brokers, petstores, and rescues. The world needs to see behind the scenes of a business like Timothy Hampson's.
I am the founder of the French Bulldog Rescue Network - I looked at this young man's site and was horrified to see my own breed on it - and to recognize those puppies as the very worst example of the breed - poor quality puppy mill imports - usually from the Ukraine and surrounding countries. This boy is nothing but a young dog broker, one of the lowest forms of humanity, only one step removed from the puppy millers who actually breed the puppies he brokers. The fact that People Magazine chooses to encourage this kind of behavior makes me ill. Our nationwide purebred dog rescue saw a increase of over 70% in the dogs surrendered to us in 2004 over 2003. A disproportionately large number are puppies obtained from brokers, just like this boy. Please help stop this blatant exploitation of both dogs and the unsuspecting public by greedy dog brokers. The fact that he has started so young makes the entire situation even sadder and more reprehensible.
How about telling people how to be sure to acquire a healthy well-bred animal and how to avoid living with allergies, and crippled pets purchased from people like this teen!!!!!!!!
Your really ought to be ahamed of yourselves having a feature story on a young puppy broker who is having success brokering from a network of puppy millers!! Do you folks ever watch 20/20 or Dateline -- I must assume you do not because unlike the folks at People magazine, these folks make an attempt at responsible journalism and have done several expose's on puppy mills and puppy brokers and the heartbreak they cause to both the animals and the unsuspecting public. I will not support your magazine and will tell everyone I come in contact with about your irresponsible and potentially harm inflicting journalism.
People magazine needs to understand what you have done is unknowingly given unethical breeders credibility to run a puppymill. No ethical breeder creates hybrid puppies, hires a broker to place puppies or breeds a massive number of puppies to fill compulsive, uneducated buyer demand. A breeder is to safe guard their breed from puppymillers and try to meet the breed standard by showing the results of their program in a show ring. If they don't win they should not be bred. Please present a story on puppymills and rescue programs for purebred dogs.
I USED to buy your magazine. I will now boycott it. I am appalled that your editorial staff failed to recognise the potential harm in iconising irresponsible business.
One of my few vices is an addiction to People magazine. I'm disappointed to see that you are running an article about a teenager who promotes puppy mills. As a rescuer of homeless and unwanted animals (I currently have 40 living with me now), I am appalled by your article. Don't you know that these breeders don't care about the health, welfare or where their dogs and cats will end up? What kind of responsible persons hands over a small animal to someone who simply has the cash? Shame on you, People. I am very disappointed. Sharon Mercer, Pick of the Litter, www.potl.org. Why not put some of your power to use and showcase a rescue group --- there are thousands of them in the US, people who dedicate their lives, energy and savings to helping homeless animals who would otherwise die in shelters or on the streets somewhere. Thanks to breeders, over 8 million cats and dogs were euthanized in shelters in the US last year. For shame.
If PEOPLE wants to do a good story on dogs or people who really care for them cover a rescue group who give their own time and money to care for other perople's throw aways.....not a bunch of breeders and brokers who do not care squat and only do this to make money
This is HORRIBLE! You have to live under the gound to not know what happens to puppies like this. Pain, suffering, death. There is no excuse what so ever for this being in your magazine! I'll NEVER buy it again!
Please, let us tell the other side of the story. My heart breaks when I walk into a shelter. I spend my time and my own money trying to help the living victims this type of business creates.
I am shocked that a magazine of your quality would glorify a person selling dogs for a living. You are aware that these are puppies brought into this world for no other reason then to make a profit.I know that you have heard the word "Puppymill"... Why would you want to contribute to the welfare of these horrible people.
People Magazine apparently does not do any research prior to publishing the encouragement of puppy millers!! I am appalled that you are promoting one of the worst business in this nation. In the interest of equal journalism I will expect an article about the TRUE facts of backyard breeders, and our young puppy miller! The hell that these adult "breeding machines" endure for the profit of uncaring, cruel, and inhumane people is deplorable! You no longer have credibility in my eyes.
It is appalling that you printed the puppy mill article. I buy your magazine every week at the grocery store and I will not buy it again until there is an apology and a note say that you do not condone puppy mills!
How can you feature such an enterprize?
I am one of the people that take in the left overs from this type of buisness.....It totally disgusts me that a magazine of your stature would do this.
People Magazine and this young man should be ashamed.I have always regarded People magazine highly and after reading about this young man, i'm canceling my subscription.People magazine should do a follow up and get intouch with the so-called breeders and see the conditions that the moms & dads are raised in.You must make people aware of what goes on in these puppy mills. Please do not promote this!!!
I find it deplorable that you have printed this trash. A teenager is no more a suitable breeder than a puppy mill and they may be one in the same. Shame on you People magazine.
This is a disgrace! No one should buy puppies from puppy mills. No one should ever buy a puppy from the internet. This young man should not be encouraged. He should be put out of business. The ASPCA needs to investigate this practice.
A network of "breeders" that will allow him to sell on the Internet? Any reputable breeder would never do that. He's a young puppy broker...nothing more. What a shame.
We are trying to rehab a Mother from a Mill situation. She is so scared and I hope there is some trust left to be able to go to a forever home. It looks very grim right now. Start education on this now so the ones producing puppies can be saved from deplorable conditions.
People Magazine and this young man should be ashamed! He is running a puppymill which will only contribute to the growing overpopulation of unwanted puppies/dogs. PLEASE run a story on the true nature of puppymills and the danger they pose.
I have always regarded People magazine highly and in fact was planning to subscribe.
I am shocked and appalled that a magazine of People's calibre advocates puppy milling. I will not be supporting a publication with such a viewpoint.
People's publishers would do well to withdraw their support of such breeders and so-called entrepreneurs and also publicize the ugly underworld of milling.
In the interest of unbiased, balanced journalism, it is my opinion that People Magazine should present an article (equal in text and number of pictures to the "Teen Titans" article) on the horrible lives of dogs in puppy mills. Any one of a number of respected animal welfare organizations (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Doris Day Animal League, In Defense of Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, for example) should be called upon to supervise or offer input, so that the story is set straight. Your publication's journalistic integrity demands such balance.
Puppy Mills are America's dirty little secret! As a moderator of Puppy Mill Fighters group out of Ohio, I urge you to please visit our website for more info on this cruel and disturbing industry: www.puppymillfighters.com
Thank you!
How pathetic that People magazine has to promote something as horrific as this teen-ager selling these poor dogs from puppy mills. Perhaps their editors and reporters should go and visit where these puppies come from and see what thier so called breeding does to the various breeds simply breeding dogs. They give no thought to genetic problems or fall out way down the line.
Shame on People Magazine for permoting a boy who is dealing in dogs from the horrible puppy mills. I have five rescues in my home that suffered in puppy mill for over seven years of thwir lifes. Please do a story about the people who do rescue work and save these dogs from a lfe of misery.
I totally agree with the petitioner of this protest.
This is NOT an example of an entrepeneur, but of simple animal abuse and puppymilling.
I hope you write an apology to all ethical dog breeders.
Quote from your teen titan: "I work extensively with a small group of dedicated breeders who produce the cutest, happiest and healthiest pure bred and hybrid puppies in the world."
That first line is enough to turn me off. Small, Dedicated breeders do not produce HYBRID puppies nor do they sell them to a broker to be sold like a stuffed animal to the highest bidder on the internet. People needs to hear from all of us and they need to be made aware of Puppy Mills.
If people magazine wants to promote something why don't you promote Rescues. I am one of the founders of Pug Rescue of New England and so far this year we have found homes for almost 100 pugs, and that is only one breed. Our medical bills hit over $10,000 to get these dogs ready for adoption. Help stop the puppymills.
Please allow puppymills to be seen as they really are..horrible livng conditions for dogs that are sold for horrendous amounts of money even though they have many health problems as they are being bred for quantity not quality.
People mag should do an article about the young man in Florida that started his own rescue, I think he is only 12 or 13. Now that is an inspirational story!
He would do more good trying to help the thousands of animals being PTS every day than to sell "breeder" dogs. Shame on him and his mother for allowing this to happen. Shame on you for highlighting him.
There are so many animals suffering at human hands in mills. Until you have seen an animal freed from it's prison you can't possibly fathom the emotions. Please blow the cover off of these horrible places. Please. www.prisonersofgreed.com
