While I doubt you'll have the decency to run a retraction or even a pathetic apology, this is to let you know you blew it BIG time. Just chalk it up to one more example of thoughtless, irresponsible so-called journalism. Wow, what a huge surprise these days.
I simply cannot believe a magazine with such national coverage would encourage a young boy to sell "miniature" puppies! Did it EVER occur to the people at PEOPLE where this child and his brain-dead mother got those puppies???? Can you say "puppy mill"?? Has anyone at the magazine ever visited a puppy mill? Have you ever smelled the stench and seen the horror the dogs live in that are forced to produce litter after litter??? Clearly NOT! PLEASE, in the name of all that is good, STOP promoting something that causes such pain and suffering to so many who are helpless, the dogs!
You think this kid is an entrepreneur? Why don't you print some pictures of the conditions that these puppy mill pups that he is selling are raised in!!! Promoting this kid is promoting puppy mills.
This is a very uneducated way to make money. There are so many animals being thrown away already. It is this age group that we need to start promoting responsible pet ownership. Does this business take the dogs back if they do not work out with the families that bought them or does it fall into the hands of some shelter or rescue that has to ask for donations to feed the animals that someone else made a profit off of.
This young "titan", and his mother, should be required to spend a week at a shelter.Put them to work putting unwanted, abandoned animals, many of them products of these "breeders", to the final "sleep". Then have them write an article for People about how much fun that was!
How about an article on rescues? they are the ones that have to clean up after these profit seeking individuals, who have no conscience as to proper breeding and selling. If you want to be a breeder be a responsible one, learn about your breed and know your clientelle. Be responsible to the animal not to the almighty dollar
I am stunned that your magazine would promote and applaud the selling of puppies in this manner. How many teenagers and adults are going to read that article and think 'wow, I can make good money selling pups'? The ones suffering in the end are the puppies with health problems down the road because no health testing was done on the parents and puppies who are unwanted once they grow up and are no longer 'cute' but considered a nuisance. An article on responsible breeding, puppy mills, and rescue/humane shelters as a first source when looking for a dog needs to be published.
People needs to follow this up with a front-cover report on puppy mils. How about an article honoring people truly worthy of praise - those who make saving these babies their life's work - without profit. Or let's meet the people and see the environment these puppies are coming from. Oh, right, camera's are banned from these type of places. Lives for money - this is an honorable occupation?????????
This boy is treating these pups as if they are inanimate "things." He may not know any better but the adults around should certainly -- his mother and your staff.
While it is wonderful to recognize the entrepreneurial spirit of our youth, it is the responsibility of any news outlet to educate themselves on what they are promoting. The web is not place to sell puppies or any kind of animal. No responsible breeder would sell a puppy over the internet.
I hope that People magazin will run an article on puppy mills, responsible breeding and ownership and feature a teen who is involved in positively affecting the lives of animals by volunteering in a shelter, etc.
This is a puppy mill and your magazine should be ashamed of its promotion of such a business. As someone that has brought home a rescue that was from a similar situation I can go on and on about the health problems this type of breeding can cause.
Any kind of praise for a Puppy Mill operation is totally inappropriate. Selling live animals over the internet is just a bad idea. Even eBay won't let you list animals.
As the president of a Golden Retriever Rescue, I'm appalled at the story in People magazine about Timothy Hampson a young entrepreneur who has profited from buying and selling puppies to families. If he were indeed as bright as many of the others featured in the article, he would be educated enough to know where these cute puppies are coming from. Puppy mills are a huge problem in this country. Because people like him, are not doing the research to find out just exactly where that cute little puppy in the window is coming from. Sadly, this is not going to change if "entrepreneurs" like Timothy Hampson look only at the money they get for each puppy and not at the horrid and heart breaking conditions that the parents are forced to live and breed in.
Shame on People Magazine....you've now encouraged thousands of individuals to start puppy mills. Petco and other pet stores, etc are all now sponsoring ADOPTIONS rather than selling dogs from puppy mills. People needs to apologize and write an article on the problems of puppy mills and the DAMAGE they do to the animal population.
It is disgusting how this teen and his family are not only exploiting these dogs, but also his buyers. He claims to get dogs from "reputable breeders." However, no true reputable breeder would ever sell their dogs to an individual such as this to exploit over the internet.
Rather than glorifying individuals such as this, the media needs to shed light on the true horrors regarding puppy mills, pet stores, and internet sellers. It is the media's responsibility to educate the public. Instead, People Magazine is praising individuals with no respect for the health of these dogs and who take advantage of them for purely monetary gain under the guise of helping individuals find "perfect pets."
Please do not ake "heroes" out of those who have little regard for the true welfare of animals. dongs should not be bred unelss the breed is bettered and peole have already been checked out as to whether they would be appropriate owners for those upcoming pups. This puppy mill mentality is horrible and should be prosecuted, not admired. cuddlypuppy.com dhould be banned and fined!
i was shocked to read the story glorifying the boy that sells these puppies. did anyone writing the article check out where the boy bought the puppies from? i think there should be a follow-up story on where the puppies are bought and what kind of conditions that the dogs are found in. we dont need to encourage more people into make a quick buck off these poor animals, rather, we need to educate people to help stop the suffering of these animals.
Although I feel People Magazine printed this story without malice, I feel it is really not wise to promote breeding of dogs without education and experience on what it takes to not just raise a healthy dog, but to breed a healthy dog.
I would much like to see a follow up on the difference in breeding correctly and breeding randomly. Also a good indication of the differences between a well run kennel and a puppy mill, and the difference between a responsible breeder verses a hobby breeder would be of a healthier benefit to future bred dogs.
No responsible dog breeder would sell dogs in such a fashion.
How about an article about a teen volunteering for rescue, rather than irresponsibly breeding/selling dogs.
Hopefully People can work with organizations, such as AKC, and present an article about how to correctly purchase a puppy.
How irresponsible of People Magazine to seem to be promoting this type of enterprise. It's time for you to now show the other side of the coin, the misery so many dogs are condemned to because of businesses like this one.
Well congratulations People Magazine. Were you that desparate for a story that you needed to promote "Puppy Mill" behaviour. Because that is exactly what this is. How cool is it for a 16 year old to be praised for this. This teaches our youth that there is a quick profit to be made from exploiting innocent animals. As you praise him remember that is some poor female used for breeding purposes, in filthy conditions that has probably never seen the light of day or heard a kind word or known affection, to produce the puppies that are being sold. NO REPUTABLE BREEDER TO HAVE ANY PART OF THIS!!!!
People Magazine, you and this CHILD (because that is what he is) should be ASHAMED.
Even marketing and sales mogul Ebay.com draws the line at selling life for profit. Could it be that Ebay sets a higher moral standard than People Magazine... what shame People has decided to profit from this young boys poor choices.
As a long time subscriber of People magizine I am appalled at your lack of compassion for the dog over population problem in the United States. Realizing that 5-7 MILLION companion animals are put to death every year because of enterprizes just like this one disgusts me. I will not renew my subscription if there is not a retraction or an article about the horrors of this type of business printed. With people liker this in business I fear my all volunteer non profit corporation will NEVER run out of work.
Gwen Eder
Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue
Subscriber for many many years
Shame on you People Magazine for applauding this ignorant 16 year old in his efforts to profit from irresponsible breeding of animals. The child may not know better but People Magazine certainly should. This child and his mother need to see all the unwanted animals at their local shelter and watch a few of them be put to sleep before they continue their irresponsible breeding program.
Please provide a balanced report about puppy mills and the tragedy of puppies going to homes where they are neglected. A concientous breeder has the home thoroughly checked out before selling and agrees to take the puppy/dog back at any time.
Puppies are not toasters or lamps... they are living feeling beings. Puppy "brokering" like this means the pups must be yanked from their mothers at 4-5 weeks of age so they can make it to "market" when they are at their cutest. This interrupts a crucial period of social development. These pups are almost guaranteed to grow up to have serious behavioral issues. What a fine "product" this misguided young man has chosen to market. Very very sad. Boo hiss to this fellow, his mother, AND People Magazine. I will never read your rag again.
Outrageous! People Magazine should show compassion to these defenseless puppies going into who knows what kind of situation! Be an example in this world. Profiting from the cruel treatment of animals is really bad form. Shame on you People for exploiting it! Valerie Marshall
The exploitation of pets for profit is NOT an example of honorable entrepreneurism and should not be given recognition in a nationally respected magazine such as "People." Shame on you!
A story should be done about all of the teens who spend their time volunteering with rescue organizations instead of "trying to become the next Bill Gates"
Wow...Can't believe that a magazine like People would publish this information about the young man making money off of poor defenseless animals. The article is written to encourage this horrible business venture.
I would strongly suggest that you investigate the FACTS of where these poor dogs come from...the conditions regarding how they were produced.
It is time that People publish an article exposing the horrible truth about Back Yard Breeders, Pet Stores and Puppymills!!!
I imagine he can take back all puppies he places which turn out to be unacceptable? Of course not, this is unacceptable. Tell him to sell ceramic statues instead! Worse, are the people who buy these pups.
Lovely to think People Mag is promoting a virtual "Mini Hunte Corp" where the only concern about the dogs health is to enforce use of a vitamin most likely for additional income!
Promoting Child Entrepreneurship is one thing, but promoting such on the backs of helpless animals for profit when there is already a pet overpopulation is another...
What happened to good ole Lemonade Stands and an honest days work?
One only has to visit shelters of unwanted pets or talk people who bought puppies from irresponsible over-breeders to know that glorifying the mass production and sale of young dogs contradicts the idea that humanity ever evolved from scavenging cave-dwellers. This young man isn't selling puppies to happy people, he is encouraging those who breed animals without thought for the welfare of the animals, the health of the breed, and our overpopulated animal country. He should not be praised.
too many animals are mistreated in this country-just watch animal planet's animal precinct and see what horrors they find...there are wonderful dogs in shelters who will die without good homes. Idon't care for pedigreed dogs. i have 3 great nutts and a cat-all rescues
Instead of publishing a story on puppy mills please publish a story on rescue dogs in shelters. Dont you know a lot of these animals in shelters are from puppy mills? They do not Care about the animals- how could you want that in your magazine?
