please go to www.gulfsouthgoldens.com and read about puppy mill dogs and the rescue organizations that save them. Do your research and educate yourselves before printing stories like this one. This is irresponsible journalism.
If this is the kind of info that People Mag. is putting across to the general public, I don't wish to support that magazine. We fight puppy mills hard, as it is. What are we doing, teaching our children to profit off of the backs of living creatures?
I will never buy People magazine if you don't write an article on the horors of puppy mills that your article is promoting. Shame on you. A very large percentage of these poor puppies will end up in a shelter and will be put down.
How sad to read of an uninformed teenager using his obvious ambition to sell dogs. He should be using his ambition in a more productive manner, instead of assisting with puppymills.
I say a big "shame on People Magazine" for even publishing this article, especially with all the concerns regarding puppymills and the mistreatment of animals.
Neither I, nor the legions of others writing to your magazine, are animal rights zealots. We are, however, informed consumers who will not patronize any business that promotes the mistreatment of animals. That includes publishing an article that condons the sale of animals foorm puppy mills. As People Magazine must be focused on its bottom line, consider the economic ramifications of your magazine's position relative to this issue.
While I applaud Timothy's interest in free enterprise and entrepreneurship, he should have chosen a different PRODUCT to sell. Dogs are not merchandise, and this type of advertisement (the article) will only encourage others to do the same.
Putting his time (and People magazine's space) into animal rescue would be a much more laudable endeavor. Rescue, however, is not about making money, but about saving lives.
Appalling! This young man makes money on the misery of pyppy mills breeding dogs and sells low quality often ill or genetically defective dogs. He should education himself better. Some things are not worth the almighty buck.
To market dogs like this is a dangerous and thoughtless act. These are living creatures and the people buying them have no clue what they are getting into. Not to mention the dangers to the dogs and the lives they will lead when purchased by the wrong owner. There is no security for the dog or the puppy buyer. I cannot believe in this day and age of puppy mill awareness and puppy lemon laws they would even give an article like this print space. Is People Magazine going to come to the rescue of these puppies and puppy buyers when these dogs are sickly, poorly bred or viscious? Public magazines had best think twice before they contribute to the abuse of these poor dogs and the deception of a teenage puppymill entreprenure. Perhaps the editor of this magazine should be made to watch two seasons of Animal Precinct and see what happens to dogs put in this position.
Now they are using the new phrase "hybid puppies" to sell mixed breeds for outragous prices...? There are so many "hybids" in the local animal shelters that these puppymills do not need to be encourage to produce more! I feel sorry that this young man is learning the wrong values.
You should not be showing this as a success as the health of the animal cannot be attested to nor guaranteed. This was a mistake to highlight such an endeavor.
This is not the way to adopt a new member to your family. You should be able to see the parents, play with the puppies and pick one based on your personality and that of the puppy. Buying by mail is totally wrong in this case.
It angers me beyond words to see this sort of thing being promoted by People Magazine. Why not do on article on high school and college kids that spend their time and their own money rescuing and caring for homeless pets? And yes, these puppymill dogs also end up homeless when their "cuteness" wears off as they begin to grow up.
Unbelievable. Where was your common sense when you published this article that was clearly glorifying a puppy mill? It doesn't matter if the exploitation of animals is by a teenager or an adult, it is still explaitation. I am horrified by your article.
As a teenager,very involved with dogs & dog breeding I am disgusted to think someone is promoting the worst of behaviors. I know the work that is in this and the time and effort and the respect that comes with it. Which I give no respect,only disgust to this immature kid what he does is filth. I believe you should print an article on someone doing it properly,I would be more then happy to do an article about the money I spend for my dogs,and the shows I go to and the people I educate ,and the rescue I co-run and the training classes I teach to educate the public on what a true conpanion a dog is and not a money making business. He should be in it for the love of the animals as I am,and no other reason. I have been doing this since I was born,I am a 6th generation breeder,I help my mother run her kennel as I start my own.Its so much hard work and you don't make any money. Please rethink about something before you print it.
Perhaps if your staff had done a little background on where the puppies come from for this young man to sell, they might not have included him in their list. In all fairness, People should run an article with clear unobstructed pictures of where these puppies come from. Maybe those pictures would put these internet "entrepreneurs" out of business.
If People magazine is unaware of how the poor dogs and puppies are raised and live that are used for this "Teen Titan,” than perhaps a follow-up story about the horrible conditions of puppy mills would better serve your magazine and would be a better way to educate the public. We recommend adopting pets from shelters and rescues. We recommend spaying and neutering. Please consider a follow-up story.
Hi People, Well you can count on my NOT buying your magazine ANYMORE. How dare you suopport this use of living creatures as commodities. These people don't care where these dogs wind up it for the MONEY. Let see an article on selling BABIES next. Sadly an ex - reader, Maura C. Ptacek/Long Island/NY
People Magazine must take responsibility for the inadvertant promotion of the abhorrant puppymill business, especially one that is promoted over the internet. This irresponsible breeding is a huge part of our unwanted pet population, leading to thousands of unnecessary animal deaths each year.
May I suggest that you prominently feature at least one "Teen Titan" (there are many) who is involved in pet rescue or shelter work? Their rewards are not measured in dollars made, but in lives saved.
I do hope the rebuttal comes again soon so I feel motivated to purchase your magazine again...until then, I will not.
Its not okay to exploit animals of any kind and that is what this 'child' is trying to do. His mother should be held liable when this blows up in thier face.
This is not something that should be encouraged and applauded as you do in your article. If this teenager is such a saavy entrepreneur he should be able to and encouraged to use his talents in other areas. This is a puppy mill.It is outrageous that People Magazine would encourage and applaud such a venture.
People should provide equal time against puppy mills.
The teenager who is marketing pups bred by puppy mills could better spend his time--and would be much more worthy of praise--if he became involved in dog rescue work. Given that millions of homeless dogs are euthanized in shelters nationwide each year, his efforts would be better spent helping those animals in need instead of encouraging more irresponsible breeders to add to the existing pet overpopulation problem.
I thought it was unnessisary to include the article about the boy making loads of money off these poor animals. The other stories were great examples, but give me a break... we dont need anyone else helping the overpopulation of animals... Why doesnt he try putting his efforts to find all the dogs in shelters homes???
I buy People magazine, and I was shocked to see the article about Timothy Hampson in People. When you read the words "saw a goldmine" it becomes clear that this child is only in this "business" for the money, and when you breed and sell dogs this way, concern for their health is sidelined. I was disgusted that his website suggested feeding a specific vitamin supplement would somehow prevent congenital problems...ridiculous! I'm sorry but last time I checked Bill Gates did not make his fortune off the misfortune of tiny puppies. People should have never provided the avenue for this kid to brag about his business....he is nothing more than a puppy mill....Shame on People!
people like this make it necessary for there to be people like me and others to do rescue
and so many unwanted dogs to be in shelters and then having to die(UNLOVED AND UNWANTED)
It's time we stopped treating animals like merchandise. These are living breathing beings and they deserve our respect and consideration. Puppy mills are barbaric and inhumane no matter how you look at them.
People Magazine should be ashamed for promoting this business. Millions of dogs and cats are put to sleep every year just because of these situations. The only thing People Magazine is supporting here is abuse. This young man and his family should not be proud of themselves at all! Based on this article I will never buy People Magaizine again.
A teen could hardly have the genetics background to do a decent job at dog breeding....unless the point is just to make more puppies for our pounds to euthanize.He may be really good at that.
Shame on you!
Tell the kid to get a "real" job!
Are you a ware that in puppy mills that the jaws of the mother dogs are broken if they growl. as their puppies are taken away? This is only one of the atrocities that happens in mills.
Now, write a story for the other side.
This is a perfect example of parental ignorance and irresponsible reporting--a very ugly combination. How anyone could be proud of this exemplifies what's wrong with children and their parents today.
Nice that this kid is so ambitious. But, this should not be at the cost of perpetuating this horrible trade using these puppy mill dogs. Females are bred time after time then are discarded when bred out. Puppies purchased from thesse internet breeders and stores have known nothing but misery, and often make terrible pets with many illnesses. Humans are supposed to be kind and caring stewards of those unable to protect themselves no matter what their species.
How cruel to promote the almighty dollar over the lives of these animals. People magazine you should be ashamed at your lack of compassion for these animals, your lack of research of puppy mills and backyard breeders and your lack of understanding on who pays to house and euthanize these animals when they are not wanted. Right now your magazine is only good for the 9 Yorkie Rescue's that I have to piddle on. Again, Shame on you People for helping murder more innocent animals.
I am really upset that you have allowed this to be in your magazine. This is something that should not be allowed. It is not in the best interest of the dogs that he is selling.He is getting these dogs from Puppy Mills and they are bad places. They are getting big bucks for these dogs and maybe getting dogs with serious health or behavior problems and selling them to unsuspecting buyers for triple digit prices. So, please let an article about Puppy Mills be in your magazine telling how about how bad Puppy Mills are. Thank you in advance for allowing an article about Puppy Mills being put into your magazine.
This young man is no more than a broker for puppy mills. I am sure most of these puppies he is making so much money on come from deplorable conditons and his only interest in this is the money, just as the article reported. These puppies he is BROKING have been raised like livestock and are sold for big bucks on the internet claiming to be raised in the home and will make wonderful pets, to people unaware of the conditions they are really raised in. Your magazine ought to be ashamed for promoting these puppy mills in this way. Vicki Walton, Spring Valley , WI
Shame, shame, SHAME! Puppy mills are a huge problem. These puppies are not being sold on this site by breeders who care about their dogs. This is encouraging puppy mills where dogs are inhumanely treated just so people like the breeders, Tim and his mother can make a buck. Sure, Tim says the breeders are "dedicated" -- to what? Pumping out more puppies to line their pockets? If the editors of People Magazine have any compassion for these pups and deplore the inhumane conditions that come with puppy mills and often backyard breeders, they will 'fess up to letting their minds slip a gear when running this story and try to do some real good in educating people NOT to buy puppies over the Internet.
With animal rights activists making it increasingly difficult for legitimate breeders to enjoy their hobby, how DARE you publish an article which supports probably the MOST horrible exploitation of the purebred dog industry! Shame! Shame! Shame on you!
Cuddlypuppy.com should be put out of business!! It is horrible that People magazine puts a young person like this on a pedestal! Shame on you, People!!
i myself have 4 dogs. one is rescued and 3 are puppies from a dog that i found on the STREET! luckily i found homes for the mother and the rest of the 6 puppies. these dogs are my life and i'm standing for this cause.
