Those of us who rescue, foster, and find qualified homes for these "leftover and too often abused" animals never cease to be appalled at these people's stupidity. Stop breeding, go to a shelter, rescue an animal that will give you un-conditional love or just volunteer for a month and see what happens to them.
I thought your magazine was about People-not Puppies. Would you publish an article about some budding entrepreneur selling "cuddly" kids over the internet? Then what's the difference if they have 4 legs instead of 2?
Please consider that this is promoting puppy mills which are definitely not a good thing. Please publish an article about the inhumaneness of puppy mills, too.
It is truly sad to know that what I considered to be a reputable magazine would celebrate a teen, or anyone, who uses the irresponsible breeding of animals and labels them as an entrepreneur. As a rescuer, it sickens me to know that my work has just increased due to this “wonderful” lad and his mother!
What a shame a magazine that reaches so many people, wouldn't have writers more aware of their topics. How about research into PUPPYMILLS and what makes one. This young man is only in this for the money, not the love of the dogs. What a shame we have a new puppymiller joining the ranks AND having his mothers approval to do so.
We aid in animal rescues and it breaks my heart to see some of these puppy mill animals.
Shame on the parents who let a teenager exploit animals by using the internet to earn money. And shame on People Magazine for printing such a story.
Please do not give free press to people who 'sell' dogs and promote inhumane puppymills. What's disturbing about this is that his mother helps him profit at the expense of these poor helpless animals who are bred to breed. Please do the right thing People Mag -- retract your story or show the public where these dogs really come from.
In light of all the puppymill scandals going on in this country, this is reprehensible!!! They could be being sold to laboratories or for some other nefarious purpose! It should be stopped, not commended!
How I wish more young people were exposed to the TRUTH regarding the numbers of animals bred-- just to end up dieing in a shelter after someone else made their money a while back. Even backyaed breeders are nothing more than small time puppy-mils.Very shocking to see such an article when the inforamation is more than available and word is out. For a well know magazine to promote something that takes no brains, eithics or a licence...by a youth is so very disappointing to see.
Animals are not a business that we can abuse to make a profit on. People should be ashamed at their inclusion of this article. People is kidding themselves if they think they are educating anyone. They are spreading a diseased state of mind.
Today Petfinders has 104898 dogs listed in shelters that need homes and that is only a fraction of the homeless dogs in this country. How can you give free advertisement to an Internet puppy mill? Shame on you!
Why don't you run an article that lists all the rescue organizations and shelters highlighting the hard working volunteers who are trying to help fix and not add to the problem of pet overpopulation?
I sincerely hope you will print an apology for running this article. Instead of breeding more animals, we must act responsibly to spay and neuter our companion animals. Millions of healthy but unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized every year in this country. Poppy mills contribute to this problem. People who exploit animals in this fashion should be fined and put out of business. Please consider running an article on teens who volunteer their time to give attention to homeless animals in the nation's many shelters. These are the "Teen Titans" I want to read about.
doG help me that puppymills still exist. The poor animals that are being bred under even good circumstances, which is rare, are pron to all kinds of inherited health problems because the people involved are interested in selling dogs, not giving a darn about the health problems that are being passed on by ignornant breeding pratices.
Puppies born in "Puppy Mills" have been reproduced by overbred, underfed, under vetted animals. That should explain the quality of puppies that result from these breedings. The list of illnesses and faults is endless but start with hip dysplasia, blindness, deafness, overbite, underbite, weak backs, kneecaps, etc. Properly bred puppies have had most breed faults bred out of them. Your story sounds like a fairy tale for this boy, but in reality for the puppies he is selling it is anything but a fairy tale.
This is absolutely unacceptable. A 16 year old already being greedy to make money quickly at the cost of these poor puppies. What happens when the new owners no longer want the puppy? They will be placed in humane society's and euthanized. This kid needs a smack upside his head to knock some sense into him.
To have an article with a kid selling puppymill dogs is a shame and disgrace and a black mark on your magazine. Until retract this, I will never buy or read another People magazine.
I used to like People magazine, but not anymore! This is a terrible example to be setting before the people of this country. We are supposed to be a civilized society, and puppymills have NO place in such a society. Come on, People, do some research.
I was very disappointed that People Magazine would profile Timothy Hampson as a "Teen Titan" because he makes $$$$ by selling dogs. In my opinion, Timothy and his mother are nothing but "puppy pimps." Has anyone at People Magazine ever heard of pet overpopulation and puppymills? Do you know that millions of animals are put to sleep (many in the gas chamber) every year because there are not enough homes for them. Do you know that millions of animals are forced to live their entire lives in cages with inadequate shelter, food and water. These animals receive no medical care, or human contact. Their "owners" don't care about them, their only concern is the almighty dollar. Please contact any animal welfare organization or rescue group to learn the facts. After that, please do a story on the horrors that these poor animals are forced to endure so humans can make money off their pain and suffering. Also, please take this opportunity to educate the public on responsible pet care.
Please do the responsible thing by publishing a story on the millions of helpless animals in the shelters waiting for homes. Puppymills are a detrement to our society and the welfare of everyone involved. Some of these pups have been breed so many times that their organs fall out. If there is any decency, for the love of God, please do something positive. Make adoption from the shelters cool. People are spending thousands of dollars on these exotic breeds when the same kinds of dogs can be found at the local shelter. How about promoting Petfinder.com. They have a wonderful site for those looking for a specific breed. But to glorify this boy and his company for their booming profit at the expense of the animals is sad and virtually inhumane. Be responsible. Speak out against puppymills and be a huge friend and help to the shelters. Those pups will lick you for it.
I am truly ashamed to see this in one of my favorite magazines.... Guess I WON'T be subscribing any time soon! Please, please, for the sake of the dogs, DON'T print material such as this as being "successful"! I agree that the magazine should do an article on the true plight of animals in puppy mills and include information about rescue organizations.
Dear People,
I am apalled that this type of story would be featured as a "success story" when thousands of people around the country are working as volunteers to try to eradicate puppy mills like those supported by this teen. Please run a counter-article ASAP showing some of the valiant workers trying to make life better for dogs...and hopefully feature some warning signs of puppy mills...such as people that sell pets online and accept credit cards...without meeting the new owners, and with no concern for where the puppies will end up.
I am an amateur dog sport competitor who supports anti-mill legislation...and normally a happy reader of People. But not anymore!
Sharon Savage
This is nothing more than a puppy mill! The health and well-being of the dogs is of no concern to this entrepreneur. PLEASE offer an article(s) showing how dogs are treated in puppymills and the efforts of rescue groups to help these poor animals
Do you have any feelings about where these poor puppies go. Have you had your head in the sand when the many articles and TV shows have been aired depicting the horrible conditions these pups are raised in when sold to puppy mills....shame on you and your mother....making money off the suffering of these poor pups.
I recently adopted a dog from a rescue group that helped break up another puppymill. This adorable, sweet puppy has already been almost bred to death, literally. She is so afraid of people that she shakes and whimpers when anyone she doesn't know comes around her (especially men). I can only recently take her for a decent walk because formerly she would literally go berserk when she would see a man walking somewhere around us, and would not recover for hours. She has shown signs of improvement, but it is very slow and a lot of people would have already given up on her and had her euthanized. That's what happens to these innocent creatures. And your magazine is condoning and encouraging it - especially by teenagers that don't know what they're doing and do not care, as long as they get the money! Heaps of shame on you and your care-less staff. I won't be buying your mag again!
UGH! With so many animals in shelters why can't he do good and help those dogs get placed instead of making a buck on the lives of poor female dogs forced to whelp litter after litter in horrific conditions. Shame on his parents for teaching him that the exploitation of harmless animals for personal gain is acceptable. Shame on People Magazine also for adding insult to injury by touting this obviously ignorant person as an entrepeneur. No longer will I continue to purchase the magazine until I see that they have rectified there stance.
Come on PEOPLE. Recognize this "Teen Titan" for the "I'm in it for the money" only. Just another person who breeds for money and cares less about what happens to the dog. Shame on you for not seeing through this sham.
Teri Cooper Shardy/Utah
Only in America would people pay over a thousand dollars for a mix breed dog. Only in America would a magazine glorify selling a live animal over the internet by anyone and even more so a 16 year old boy. Breeders study for years to produce sound healthy dogs with good temperament. This is not responsible breeding.
Shame on you for printing such a article. How can one promote puppy mills as a means of a "good business". Any good breeder knows breeding is not about making money but instead a hobby to support your breed and create better specimens of the breed for future generations to enjoy. This article is a real thorn in alot of "reputable" breeders backs as we work to improve are breeds writers like you are premoting the puppy mills to the general public that are working for the money to destroy our breeds.
This story showed VERY poor judgement on the part of the Editors of your magazine. It would be a VERY good thing for your magazine to address the issue of pet over population and how this "kid" is doing nothing more than contributing to the problem. NOT something that should be applauded.
This is in NO WAY helping the overpopulation of unwanted pets in this country! This is a travesty and should not be condoned, praised or rewarded, especially by the media!!!
I will discontinue purchasing your magizine in the future and encourage my friends and family to do so as well until a retraction and a story detailing this young man's underhanded practices (including selling snake-oil vitamin pills that unless given to the dog daily violates his "health guarantee")is printed in a prominent place. A child making money on the backs of helpless puppymill victims is not something to be celebrated. Shame on you, People. A little common sense on this one would have gone a long way.
Not only do the puppy mills need to be put out of business, but also pet stores. Each one of these little animals are given life, need to be taken care of the best possible way and neither puppy mills or pet stores do that!!!!
Stop the inhumane treatment! Buy from reputable breeders or adopt from a pound. Please don't contribute to these repugnant puppy mill owners by buying from pet stores.
This disgusts me! Why on earth would you feature someone, a kid at that, who is helping to over-populate the shelters with homeless dogs. Thousands and thousands are being killed every day, even purebreds, because no one wants them. You should have done your research.
People magazine,
I am appalled that you would print an article praising anyone who causes nothing but pain to poor animals. Do these animals a favor. Print THEIR side of the story. Talk to the rescuers who have to deal with the aftermath of people who breed indescriminately for money.
Pet over population is a HUGE problem in our country that is very much dismissed by the public. Someone should remind the public that the burden of this responsibility is the shelters and animal control facilities that are funded by tax dollars. Let's put the responsibility back onto the breeders and owners for creating this situation in the first place.
