I am surprised that People magazine would publish this article without conducting proper research. Please, People, let your readers know about the horrors of puppy mills -- you could educate millions who buy without thinking, and by so doing, support an industry that would horrify them if they knew the truth.
Before you print articles like "Teen Titans", please dig a little deeper - a teenager making a fast buck working with puppymills should be condemned, not admired!
This kid needs to be taught that puppy mills are terrible. I am owned by a beautiful bichon and we got him from a puppy mill before we were educated on what really happens there. STOP PUPPY MILLS NOW
I am abhorred by this kid who is using animals in this manner to benefit himself! This is Puppy Slavery and ALL puppy Mills need to be shut down, your magazine needs to do some research into the horrors that puppy mills do and write an article "defending" these helpless animals!
As I returned from volunteering at my local shelter last week, I saw this article in my People magazine. Many of the dogs that were at our shelter will not be there tomorrow. How can People glorify what this teen entrepreneur is doing? While it's nice that these young people have ambition, BLIND ambition is another thing altogether. The article referred to this boy selling "miniature puppies" and buying them from a network of breeders. HELLO? "Designer dogs" from faceless breeders? How can this be commendable, when so many unwanted dogs and unhealthy millers end up being destroyed when they're no longer wanted or needed? People should re-think this one and at least offer equal time to dedicated rescuers or responsible breeders.
After two bad experiences with puppy mill puppies from pet stores, I cannot imagine ever getting a puppy from a puppy mill again. Please do the responsible thing and show the other side of the story.
I can't believe people think this is cute and that these people are entrepreneurs.. There has to be something else people can do; then adding dogs to an already enormous population.
This is extremely irresponsible of the publisher to not get all the facts BEFORE publishing a article to support puppy mills
Anything for fame and money
This is outragous! Now you are encouraging irresponsible people to breed dogs that will end up in the gas chambers at pounds all over the country! The also could end up in dog fighting rings used for bait! I suggest you run an article on the many colunteers who spend countless hours,and their own money trying to save the dogs that end up unwanted.There are not enough homes for the dogs now, this just adds to the overpopulation problem that exists today. I will not be buying your magerzine again!
I was appalled when I read the bit about Timothy Hampson and his puppy mill business. All this country needs is more puppies who end up in shelters to ultimately wind up in our landfills. What a disgrace!
I do sheltie and collie rescue and have seen first hand the effects of people like this. They are puppymillers and don't deserve any recognition for what they do. Do your homework.
Sirs:
I am with the majority in favor of your publishing "the other side" of this puppy mill issue. Any responsible pet owner would never buy a pet knowingly from this sort of breeder.
Disgusted,
Juanita E. Duell
Disgusting!
Timothy Hampson does not care about the welfare of the dogs he is profiting from, with no concern for where/how they were bred, socialization, and where they are being sold to - not to mention the staggering pet overpopulation crisis. Don't breed or buy while shelters dogs die - or while scumbags like this make money exploiting animals.
This kid should have to watch some cuddly little toy dogs being euthanized at his local shelter.
I am truly sickened by such an article that supports and promotes a business that has no thought of the well being of a puppy. People magazine I implore you to seek after photos of puppymills that have young breeding stock dogs standing in feces,often in pens with many little dogs. No human contact except for when food is thrown at them. Living conditions that would make anyone with an ounce of compassion nausiated. The long coated breeds are often matted to the skin, and not healthy. Made only to produce heat cycle after the other until they can no longer produce, then they are dumped for younger stock. People magazine I would say owes us ethical and caring breeders an apology for promoting this type of business.
Please do not glorify Puppy Mills and those who run them. It is a horror story, nothing more. Please go back and research these mills and what REALLY happens in them. Until you do, I refuse to purchase another magazine!!
You could really help to promote adoptions of animals in shelters along with spay and neuter programs as responsible pet ownership through your magazine. Please try to help to promote these programs, not breeding of more animals when we have overpopulation issues and many unwanted pets are put to sleep every day.
how sad that educated people think a puppy selling business is a GOOD THING!! not once on the website is there a request that the buyer provide references or any i.d. or that a homecheck be done..the puppies could be going to research and/or used as bait for fighting dogs for all the cuddlypuppy people know or even care...all they are is an electronic puppymill...in PA we are trying to get these puppymillers shut down and we also have a PuppyLemon Law.
Note: the cuddlypuppy lifetime guarantee states the vitamins they sell have to be given to the animals all their lives OR the guarantee is null & void!! bet most "buyers" don't notice that!! Someone at People Magazine didn't do their homework!!
I am a former employee of the Humane Society and I saw in first-hand the effects that puppymills have on the animal population.Even though the Humane Society's goal is to save animals' lives, we had to euthanize more animals than were adopted.I think if a breeder had to euthanize an animal, or even witness a euthanization, they would stop breeding animals for profit.If a person has to have a pure bred dog, there are plenty of rescue groups and shelters which have very lovable and adoptable pets that just need someone to give them some love and attention.
People Magazine do your homework and show the true horror of Puppy Mills. Dogs that are kept in cages all their life and when they can no longer breed be put out with the garbage. While you are doing your research attend a puppy mill auction in Wheatin, Missouri and then promopte this type of entrepreneurship. Responsible breeders have the new owner sign a contract stating that if the pet does not work out then the purchaser is to return the pet to the breeder not dump it, when it is no longer cute and fluffy or it eats your favorite pair of shoes. Will this young man be responsible enough to take back what he has sold? I don't think so! Why not encourage your readers to adopt from a rescue group and give the information on how to contact these groups. There are non-profit rescue groups for all types of animals both large and small. After you have done your research on puppymills and puppymill auctions you can't help but change your idea of this misguided young man.
It is so cruel to sell dear sweet innocent puupies to anyone with out checking that person out. This cannot be done over the internet. Please stamp out puppy mills.
For the life of me I cannot understand why "People" would care so little about the lives of innocent animals. Why do you not show some true intelligence and educate this young man and his mother that they are nothing but a puppy mill broker and as such are causing animal abuse. Educate the public and Timothy and his mother on their cruelty. Who knows maybe this boy and his mother would mount another type of campaign to save the innocent instead of causing thousands to die he obviously is a smart kid so show us you are as well.
I was purely disgusted to read this story. This isn't a teenage entrepreneur, this is a teenage puppymiller. Please educate your readers that this type of behavior is not to be tolerated!
This is NOT an entrepenuer...this is a SICK person making a buck off a puppy! I cant belive People Magazine would publish his and be proud to publish it!
Puppy mills just should not be allowed. Besides the filt and deplorable conditions the animals have to endure. The back yard breeders ruin the breed of the dogs.
I hope you will print another article showing the horror of puppy mills and the hard work that rescue groups face when these puppies don't live up to expectations.
I am so upset by the fact that you are promoting what this young man is doing. You must not understand the horrors that come from puppmills. If you did you would not encourage such a thing. You are a magazine that is supposed to inspire and educate young people. To provide stories of people who should truly be valued in society. To give the youth ideas on how they can fulfill their dreams in life by providing stories, and experiences, of other youths that are a great example and inspiration. This is just promoting ignorance and the best way to make a buck without care for the people and animals this choice affects. With this story your are promoting irresponsibility, lack of imagination and lack of education. I am hoping that this did not reach another impressionable youth and give them any bad ideas. I am so very disappointed. I really looked up to your magazine and loved the things you were all about. Now I am thinking it was all a mirage - please prove me wrong and revive my love for your mag once again.
It would be greatly appreciated if your magazine did not glorify internet breeders who will sell dogs to anyone with the correct amount of change in their pocket. Unfortunately, due to this story, I will no longer purchase your magazine nor support those who advertise in it.
People Magazine Editors: You have now given me another reason to not read your magazine. Honoring a boy who makes money out of the sale of living things is just plain wrong. Why don't you honor a student who is involved in animal rescue? Or a child who helps at his/her local shelter? Or a young adult who is helping out in their community? Please...maybe you should stick to writing about celebrities and rock stars.
This should go in People's scandal pages. Hampton appears to be making money without understanding health or genetic issues. He and Ma would seem to be just puppy millers... Yes... titans of the lowest, truly despicable, shameful order.
You should make people aware of the conditions dogs and puppies are living in when they are bred in puppy mills. Responsible breeders have experience and a genuine love for the dogs in their care. They wouldn't let any random buyer purchase one of their dogs.
