Request you allow an article to be put in your magazine telling the general public the true reality of what happens to thousands of pups raised in the puppymills after the "cuteness" wears off. They are dumped at shelters, or let out on the side of the road only to be killed by motorists unable to stop for animals on the road. They are frightened, some become aggressive out of their fear of being abandoned by the only humans they have ever known. People too wrapped up in their own lives to take the time to socialize these animals.
People magazine must make it clear to its readers that exploiting animals for profit is NOT acceptable. Please sent a message to Timothy Hampson that his business is NOTHING to be applauded.
I see that they promote Petfinder.com but still turn around and produce more MIX breed puppies to sell...What a shame...and the mother should really really be ashamed to teach such a contradiction!! If the young man wants to get into helping animals why not teach him about the numerous animals that die on a daily basis that his venture is not helping...and most likely adding too the problem!
These kinds of people make me sick to my stomach. Treating living creatures as if they are just objects. With no regard to breeding practices, these puppies could easily suffer for a lifetime and cause grief and unnecessary expence to an uneducated buyer.
As a animal rescue worker, this is another reason why our educational activities in the schools are so important. Someone needs to enlighten the People Magazine staff as well. Contact a local animal rescue and get the rest of this story.
How could you praise a child running a buisness that is cruel to dogs. Do some puppy mill research and see how much you praise this boy once you have the facts.
I can't believe it. We have a pet explosion because of irresponsible breeders and owners, and here you are praising people who add to the very problem. I don't see you praising any teen or person who spends countless hours working to save the very animals that these people produce when they are dumped by the wayside. There are so many other positive people, trainers, rescue workers and breeders (yes RESPONSIBLE breeders) that you could write about.
So basically this kid is a middle man for all the backyard breeders out there? How pathetic that they have to hire someone to sell the dogs they don't even want.
People need to be educated about puppy mills. Unfortunately these people have never worked with a rescue organization or animal shelter or they would NEVER consider buying and selling dogs. It's so very sad to see what these poor pups go through -- mentally and physically. Typical -- looking for a quick buck and don't care about the poor animals that are innocently involved.
This boy is running a puppymill. I do rescue work and end up with many of these puppies-poorly bred with numerous behavior and health problems. Please do something to add truth to this story instead of glamorizing to pathetic occupation.
Absolutely disgusting. Puppy mills are responsible for the number of dogs neglected, slaughtered and turned in to rescue and humane societies, yet you laud someone who is nothing more than a puppy mill! Entrapreneurs are to be congratulated and encouraged, but lets pick an honorable profession. Educating people about buying from puppy mills and pet stores would be a start.
I am appalled that this teenager is promoting the breeding of puppy mill dogs. I am even more appalled that People magazine would cover such a "story"... why not follow up with details on where these puppies come from, and the horrid conditions under which they are "raised"? While you're at it, send a check to a legimate rescue group.. now that you have increased this child's "business" with your article, the rescues will end up getting even more poor quality mill puppies in rescue after a time... they'll need that check to feed and house them all.
I have given a home to countless unwanted pets in my life time. Why keep breeding more and only then doing it for $$$. Please People Magazine, put in an article about this horrific practice of puppy mills. There are many wonderful animals in shelters that deserve better!!! Thank you for listening!
If this child (and yes, he is a child) and his mother have no interest in these dogs. Their interest is in money. They are using and abusing animals every time they purchase one from a puppy mill and then sell it over the internet.
They should not be praised in your magazine. They need to be exposed as the users and abusers they are. It's disgusting.
I applaud the teen for his efforts to be an entrepreneur but hope that he would find some method of becoming self sufficient that does not exploit helpless animals. If he could see the condition of the senior dal I rescued which had been discarded by one of these mills after she was no longer giving birth to live pups I would hope he would be less inclined to support them.
In a day and age where political correctness is so important how could you publish this boys story and not know the outrage it would bring forth? Perhaps People Magazine needs to hire more editors and publishers who have time to make educated decisions on the articles it publishes. You can bet Opray won't be having him on her show to praise him.
Aren't there enough animals waiting in shelters to be adopted without PEOPLE magazine adding to this problem by promoting puppy mills? PEOPLE, please do the responsible thing and show the other side of the story.
I am outraged that you would praise the abuse and neglect of countless helpless dogs. How can this young man deserve such attention, when he is fostering the growth and development of puppy mills?
I'm too disgusted in 1) the MOTHER and 2) the EDITOR to comment! What kind of legal health guarantee can a teenager offer adult purchasers if the MOTHER did not sign everything. She should be ashamed and I hope the PTA in her town shun her.
This is a blaring example of how important education is in the world of pet rescue/animal shelters. I wonder if this boy and his mom really know the damage that they are doing...or even care.
People, please do an article on the horrible abuse that dogs suffer due to the lack of screening of good homes for dogs. The problems that animals suffer are often directly related to irresponsible ownership. Animals need our protection! Please do not glorify and encourage puppymills!!!
I am a devoted reader of People Magazine and have read some very informative articles in the past. I hope that they choose to take on this cause and help educate people about the horrific practices of puppy mills and the thousands of animals in shelters just begging for a good home.
This is just terrible, doesn't People do any research about the subject they are writing articles about? Sure will make me think twice about buying it again with that kind of garbage in it!
At just 16 yrs old what the heck can this BOY know about animal welfare. This is disgracefull, i cannot believe you condone this sort of thing, which you must or you would never of published this article. I hope you area ll ashamed of yourselfs. As for the BOY he should go out and find something else to sell on the internet, comics maybe!!!
If you don't know about puppymills, then you need to learn. SHAME on You!
Cuddypuppy.com should be educated, jailed or worse. Maybe even treated like a puppy in a mill!
People Mag. how could you? This rates right up there with Dan Rather and his lack of investigating a story. This is one of the worst pieces of journalism I have seen in a long time.
I can't tell you how sad this makes me. I am a rescue person who works in breed specific rescue and have a puppy mill dog as a family member. If only you knew how many of these dogs end up in rescues, or worse put to death because their owners can't hanlde them when they get older you would stop this type of advertisment at the animals expense.
There is absolutely no need for another puppy mill, whether it's run by a teenage entrepeneur or not. This kid is also charging incredibly astronomical prices for puppies that may or may not be of good quality. Go down to your local animal shelter and see all the unwanted purebred dogs sitting in cages that can be adopted for less than $100 and then write this article about what a great kid this is!
As editor of People Magazine, I find it hard to believe that you are not cognisent of what goes on in puppy mills.
Now that you've endorsed this type of cruelty to animals, it is your moral duty to retract it and publish and expose.
Pet Owner,
Will Worthington
No one has ever dared to call People magazine a reliable news source, but people do look to People for advice on shopping, gossip, and hot goings-on. If this puppy mill outlet increases its business because of exposure from People, the editors should be ashamed; puppy mills and those who peddle their wares are cruel. I wonder, does People often write up generous articles on animal testing and fur?
There are enough homeless dogs and cats and other abused animals without someone like this adding to the population. There aren't enough homes for dogs and reputable breeders, those who screen their animals and have limited number of litters, have difficulties competing for the qualifed homes with these types of "breeders".
As a long-time dogwriter I am utterly appalled by this apparent validation for selling living breathing, sentient beings over the internet, not to mention breeding them in mill situations. My personal area of expertise is dogs 20 lbs and under. The problems that I see come from situations such as this one, and that is not just behavior problems but health problems as well. Teaching a child to exploit animals this way is horrifying. At the very least, it's incredibly irresponsible.
How could a Mother let her child use animals in this way. We are doing our best to find homes for all the homeless puppies as it is and now some little kid is going to encourage more people to breed unwanted dogs to do the same.
Unfortunately, your promoting this story will lead to other parents and children using this method to make money. Please let us rescue folks tell our side of the story .
As a volunteer for a rescue organization, I must say that this shows just a clear lack of value for the live an animal and true greed on the part of both the child and parents. It's obvious that neither know nor care what happens to the animal after it is purchased. And, they cannot be dealing with reputable breeders because not one of those breeders would be a part of such a terrible scheme. This type of business only adds to the hugh number of dogs that end their lives in shelters every year.
I would ask that you publish an article on the horror's of puppymillers and that you thoroughly investigate any future articles relating to the sale of puppies over the internet or in any other fashion.
I have read your magazine over the years and just cannot beliive that you could be so irresponsible as to print an article like that. I will not purchase your magazine in the future unless you change your policies.
