I was disturbed when I viewed this website. If this young man truly cared about animals more than making a buck, he would put his efforts into adopting out shelter animals.
I purchased one puppymill dog before I knew the sad story behind the commercial breeding of dogs. Since then I have spent quite a bit of time (and money) rescuing and rehabilitating some medically-neglected small dogs from public shelters. Please, People Magazine, use your national circulation for good purposes - not to encourage the type of careless, profit-oriented breeding and selling of animals. These creatures are dependent upon "persons" for their entire well-being. Let People Magazine be part of the good, not the harm that people do to them.
People Mag...and you call youselves journalists? No, writers "maybe". A journalist INVESTIGATES the story they write, and not just one side of it either. I feel sorry for this young man. Only 16 and already on his way to social degredation. Seems like his family has no morals either, so he can't be learning much from them other than making the mighty dollar.
I think a nice field trip to lovely scenic Amish puppymill country, the writers, the young man and his family. What an inspirational journy that will be.
This entire situation reminds me of the slave trade in the South. Dirty, discusting, shameful!
Millions of wonderful animals die in shelters every year. They need homes desperately. How wonderful it would be if teens, and others, rescued these animals and found homes for them, rather than bringing more into the world, since there are not enough homes for them all.
When this child GROWS UP and realizes what he is doing (hopefully), he will have well deserved sleepless nights and will be asking God for forgiveness for causing the pain and grief he has created for some of Gods precious creatures. You certainly DID NOT investigate this mess before you printed it. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
Timothy Hampson has no idea the risk and danger he has created for the canines he is brokering. Beyond that his mother needs to also be accountalbe for Timothy's actions. It is the most outright case of a puppymill, instead of shutting them down People magazine is giving them a pat on the back.
People magazine nees to realize that this is a puppymill even if these dogs are not living in poor conditions. This is meets all of the standards of what buyers should be aware of and not purchase dogs from.
I think that this young man's entrepeneurial skills could be put to better use and certainly more humane efforts. This reminds me of when the Make a Wish Foundation granted the wish of a terminally ill boy; to hunt and kill an animal. The premises are noble, but the implementation definitely is not.
although in your eyes this young man may seem to be a outstanding individual, but he is only promoting the puppymill breeders. We need responsible individuals in these situations not people out for the all mighty dollar.
PEOPLE magazine and the world, needs to look at what is supplying the victims for his business-PUPPYMILLS!
Anything for money-no consideration for living creatures! Such a tragedy.
As a member of a pug rescue group I take great offense to your magazine (of which I have a subscription) commending the actions of the young man selling small breed puppies on the internet. Perhaps he is too young to see how wrong his business is, but PEOPLE should know better.
There are far too many dogs & cats dying needlessly in shelters across the country. The last thing we need is another outlet for puppymills & "breeders" only interested in making money with no regard to the pet overpopulation they are creating!
A good breeder has a life time responsibility to the dogs they produce or distribute. They test for health problems and spend hours researching the pedigree's of their chosen breed. They respect the breed they raise and strive to improve their breed. DOG BREEDERS are dedicated...this boy, and many others like him are NOT breeders. They do NOT improve the breeds they produce. Instead, they ADD to the already unwanted population. This article's public exceptance of this type of breeding program is REVOLTING. Dog's should not be a way to make quick money, they are living animals with needs and personalities. This is wrong.
I realize that on the surface it seems like the boy is quite the entrepeneur, but think about the horrific conditions these puppies are forced to live in and what the *****es are put through having litter after litter. This is not something to be applauded.
Karen Joseph
Dunedin, FL
I honestly hoped we were beyond this sort of animal abuse. Animals are not put on this planet for human entertainment. It is our responsibility as stewards of the Earth, to protect and nurture all God's creatures, great and small. Shame on you People Magazine for encouraging this abomination.
Your article about Timothy Hampson, the Teen Titan, is shameful. Knowledgeable dog lovers should boycot People for promoting puppymills and puppy brokers who profit from the suffering and death of innocent loving animals.
People Magazine: An apology and retraction of your support/promotion of this “business” is necessary. There are enough hurdles for people trying to educate the general public that it is NOT okay to buy dogs from just anybody who will carelessly breed and sell them in the manner that will produce the most profit. We don’t need a mainstream media source such as your magazine propagating the notion that the lives of companion animals like dogs should be treated as mere profit-producing commodities.
Please publish an article that discusses the death, disease, tragedy, abuse and suffering that is the puppymill trade and the titanic pet overpopulation epidemic that it exacerbates. That would be responsible, upstanding journalism.
Puppy mills are so sad. All pet stores that sell puppies should be shut down and dogs should only be allowed to be purchased through reputable breeders and through shelter and rescue organizations. We need to promote responsible dog ownership not these puppy mills.
As humane officer for Mobile SPCA, I am all too aware of the surplus of animals in todays market. This is a puppy mill, plain and simple. Do not buy animals of any kind off the internet. Research humane adoptions 1st.
I think it's more than a bit ironic that just a few weeks ago, People spotlighted a woman who had organized a website called "pet-abuse.com." (Reference the magazine featuring Kevin Costner's wedding). Where exactly does People stand on the animal welfare issue, or does it just depend on the "hero" of the day? This boy is not an example of an entrepreunurial spirit, only enormous greed and lack of compassion. He, his mother and his sister, as well as their customers should be ashamed of themselves. Further, I wouldn't put my dog in the cargo hold of a plane to travel 10 feet, even if you paid ME $1300 (not including the deposit of course). I can hardly wait until Timmy expands his business to include the "selling of exotic pets." What a guy.
An article such as this one defeats all attempts at educating the public to by animals from reputable breeders. There are too many animals in rescue and in shelters already. Is this young man capable and equipped to take back puppies that "don't work out"???
As an small dog breed rescue volunteer, I know that 90% of our dogs come from puppymills...people do not know enough about the breed to make an informed decision about whether the dog is right for them.
In addition, these dogs often have health and behavior issues from bad breeding.
Highlighting this young man is simply another example of the ignorance of people to the plight of puppymills!
Please help educate people about the cruelty of puppy mills. No one should profit from the misery of animals. No companion animal should be kept for the sole purpose of breeding and selling the off spring. Please do research on this topic and you will see to honor someone doing this is the wrong message.
Please do not promote this horrible trend that has been happening in the US. This boy may be making a lot of money, but it's at the expense of those poor puppies. Good breeders check out their potential buyers and do not try to breed smaller dogs because they have so many health problems. Please make sure to include the other side in your next month's issue so that more of this selfish and inhumane breeding does not occur. Thank you.
Anne Good
Omaha, NE.
It is sick that People Magazine would chose to promote a teen and a website that encourages the irresponsible breeding of dogs. That magazine article is doing nothing but promoting BYB's a Puppy Mills. shame shame shame
People deserve a dog with good health, and a dog that meets the needs and situation of the family. Puppy mills are only interested in sales -- not happy dogs and families 10 years down the line.
I disagree with how Puppy mills are run. A dog is a family pet & should be treated as such. They should never be caged or kept only for their ability to reproduce. That is so sad.
Proper placement of animals requires screening, proper breeding for temperment, etc. It is not the type of business that should be conducted for profit. Taxpayers and the public end up paying for these animals once they are disgarded by ill informed buyers. Some people profit from this to the detriment of the rest of society who must pick-up the bill. This type of business hurts, not just the animal in question, but society as a whole.
I realize you don't know about puppy mills obviously.
I am so upset about this articule and what this young man is doing. Timothy Hampson. You need to go to some shelters, and some puppy mills and see if this is the right thing to publish and be proud of.
As the Intake Coordinator for Emerald Coast Golden Retriever Rescue, it makes me incredibly sad that a child (or anyone for that matter can be proud of making money off of an animal's breeding while my children are helping take care of unwanted litters of healthy puppies. SAD!!!!
PLEASE stop this!!! I bought my dog after viewing a very nice website. The breeder turned out to be fruadulent, as well as deceptive and my puppy died at 8 months old from a congenital heart problem. We now have to exhaust all legal measures from another state away because of how easy the internet makes it for these businesses...
At the immature age of 16, I doubt Timothy Hampson possesses the years of professional experience that are the mark of a fine dog breeder. Since he sells to any idiot capable of pushing a send button, Mr. Hampson obviously lacks the morality and empathy that typify an exemplary breeder.
I imagine People pays its story researchers and editors generously. Was nobody thinking clearly on the day this story was approved?
Responsible breeders and responsible dog owners check into the breeding and the new home of puppies. This is a enterprise that only cares about $ and has no regard for animals or the feelings of new owners.
People Magazine should print a retraction, and then follow up with an article about all the rescue and adoption groups. I think that it is irresponsible that People Magazine printed this article without seriously researching the subject. This makes People Magazine look to be aninal abuse advocates.
I used to want to breed dogs but then I looked on petfinder.com. I did not want to be responsible for adding to the #'s of homeless pups. Please stop puppymills now!!
I have never thought magazines like People are worth the trees that are destroyed to produce them. This feature only reinforces my opinion. Maybe some of the editors should spend a few hours in the shelters to see what thay are a party to.
I strongly encourage People magazine to practice responsible journalism. I would like to see both a retraction of the "Teen Titan" accolade, and a long realistic article about people who treat companion animals as a commodity. What People has done is absolutely disgraceful. I hope the staff of magazine will do everything in their power to rectify the damage they have done by participating in educating the public about the horrors of puppymills, and the money-driven cruelty of puppy brokers.
While a teenage entrepreneur is to be commended, the business must be appropriate. A child who is running an online pet store which is supporting puppy mills is not to be commended. This is horrible. Puppy mills are run by people who profess to be responsible breeders but are in no way responsible. This boy says he is selling quality puppies from responsible breeders who breed for quality not quantity. He professes to be concerned about the animals. If he was so concerned, he would at the very least be requiring the type of application which rescue groups have potential adopters complete and then checking on the information. Instead, his site is like a doggy eBay - click here to buy now. No checking to see who, what, why, or where. It is obvious that this boy is only concerned with making money selling dogs. Please allow an article to be put in your magazine about puppy mills and rescue dogs to try and education people. Do not advertise people who are helping make a bad situation even worse. Thank you!
An article about puppy mills and how horrid they are should be published by People to counterbalance the harm the article about Timothy Hampson can do.
Last summer, my husband and I adopted Lucy, a Saint Bernard puppy that had been bred at a puppy mill. The mill had sold her to a pet shop, and when the shop couldn't sell her, she was surrendered to the St. Bernard rescue. At first we thought she may be epileptic, a common occurrence in Saints, but which is very treatable. However, even with treatment, she continued to deteriorate physically and mentally and have seizures. After spending thousands of dollars, and shedding an untold number of tears, she was diagnosed as having distemper. We were able to conclude that neither the the mill nor the pet shop gave Lucy her puppy shots. Within one month, the deterioration of her nervous system (which was evidenced in phyical appearance and mental aptitude) was so acute, we had to put her down. It was the kindest thing to do for her. We've tried to track down the mill, as we believe it continues to wantonly breed Lucy's mom regardless of her passing distemper on to her pups, but we've hit road blocks and have been unable to locate the mill. We did discover that the mill also sold one of Lucy's litter mates to the pet shop. He shared a similar fate -- except that he didn't even live long enough to make it out of the pet shop.... No one, especially an innocent puppy, should have to go through such an experience solely in the name of the almighty dollar. People magazine should act responsibly by reporting the other side of the coin --what puppy mills really are and how they impact not only the animal victims, but the human victims unwitting enough to buy an animal that comes out of one of these cess pools.
It is a disgrace when a magazine like People Magazine publishes stories with total disregard for facts and available information on how damaging these puppy mills really are.
I completely agree with the remarks made by Harriet Prine #4102
"I'm sure the fact tha a young boy is trying to make money and learn a business makes a good story, but it would be better if you would investigate the business before supporting it. I hope that this young boy will be enlightened about the terrible consequences of puppymills. Can you do an article about some of the wonderful rescue groups who pick up the pieces every day from these puppymills?" She took the words right out of my mouth. Shame on you People Magazine.
As any reputable media source should know - showing both sides of a story is vital. Don't be a one-sided publication. People magazine has an opportunity to show the American public what buying an animal from a puppy mill can mean. If you investigated this subject, I feel strongly your magazine would not stay silent.
"Cute" often comes with consequences - "People" should have done more research into puppy mills. I would rather see an article about teens who volunteer with wildlife rescue, the HSUS, ASPCA, etc.
For all the good that People magazine promotes, this was a very disheartening article to read. I would encourage you to do articles on the rescue efforts that are an ongoing presence in many peoples lives.
