Endorsing puppy mills in any way is an absolutely immoral, unacceptable position. For every dog churned out by irresponsible breeders, another is put to death in a shelter.
I do not think it is appropriate to teach this teenager that what he is doing is acceptable or okay, because it most definetely NOT! Maybe he doesn't know of the damage he's doing, but that just goes to show that he's not responsible enough to be in this "business"!
I hope those of you at People Mag. will seriously consider the words spoken here by so many.
I will no longer purchase or support this magazine in any way.
Please! Stop adding to the pain and suffering of these poor puppy mill animals. You apparantly know nothing about what your doing. Please research your topics and stop your careless reporting.
I strongly support your bid to get People Magazine to research just what it is they are so busy cheering about in this article. Selling dogs to strangers is totally irresponsible.
Please do an honest report on puppymills. Find a few Rescuers out there & let them tell you what happens to these dogs as they have litter after litter. Shame on you for not doing your homework.
Shame on Timothy Hampson's parent for teaching a child to value a dollar over a life. I volunteer for a group, ARF Ontario, that rescues the abandoned dogs & cats. For every one of the dogs the Hampson family , and all the other backyard breeders, sell - a shelter dog dies. It's a sad and simple as that. Wake up Mrs.Hampson and educate your child about the reality of backyard breeding by spending five minutes in the euthanising room of your local shelter while their "cuddlypups" die.
People need to know the truth about puppy mills, and not praise someone for making money off of them. People also need to learn the truth about how many animals are euthanized daily because there is not a home for them - even purebreds.
I am a professional dog obedience/behavior trainer, and see so many unhealthy, ill-tempered dogs that come from puppy mills. It's too bad that someone at People magazine didn't recognize this business for what it is......promoting irresponsible breeding whose only reason for being is to make a buck! There's nothing admirable in that, especially when animal lives are at stake.
This is a disgrace! Puppies are not products to be sold over the internet! They are living beings.I can't beleive that People magazine would actually support a company that is a broker of puppy mills - surely they should know better than that.
This is not a "job" that should be encouraged via any magazine story. These are living "things" that need to be cared for and loved. What happens to them when whomever purchased this puppy does not want it any longer...yes, it goes to the pound because it was not purchased from a breeder that cared enough to "take it back" like ethical breeders will do.
People magazine is glorifing someone who would capitalize on people who buy on impulse without any knowledge of the breed they are getting... or the fact that some of these are nothing more than high priced mutts. What do the sellers know of the genetic problems in these breeds? Can they produce the pups parent's CERFs, OFAs, thyroid clearances or cardio clearances?? Are they "reputable" enough to take back any of the pups they've sold at ANY age when the owners can't keep them? People magazine has done a great disservice to their readers!
Where in the world was the editor on this one? No more People Magazines in my house in the future(which by the way I buy every week) or any one that I know that I can tell
I can't believe People would do an article on a puppymill! What about all the abused animals that that have been rescued and are in shelters and awaiting a good home? Do a story about them.
Don't Buy While Shelter Dogs Die!
Please contact me for a story on a teenager who spends every moment possible at her local Humane Society trying to help abandoned animals find homes!
I work with 2 German Shepherd Rescue organizations and these puppy mills need to be SHUT DOWN. The amount of dogs dying every day in the shelters because of overbreeding and people's greed is devastating beyond belief. Please be fair and show the other side of the coin - what goes on in the country's shelters, and not promote internet breeders and money hungry opportunists who call themselves entrepreneurs.
Sincerely,
Jeannie Orsini
When is the article on stopping puppy mills going to appear? What about teens who devote their time, energy, and love to rescuing all the dogs that come from places like this?
People Magazine ought to go to the heart of puppy mills and talk to rescue people....and with the internet selling of pups by millers has even been made easier...so sad.
Puppies should not be sold on internet websites, but thru caring responsible breeders who can offer support and advice throughout the puppy's entire life.
I think some serious education is in order.
People Magazine will likely say they are in business to entertain, not educate. So be it. I would like to see a story in People about the horrors of puppy mills. That should be shocking enough to sell magazines for those who find that sort of thing entertaining.
And I would like to see an attempt to educate this young man and his mother about how inappropriate this type of endeavor is.
The puppy mills are using this youngster, People magazine is using this youngster; this may be legal, but it is despicable.
Everyone is making money off this young man who definitely needs to be awakened to the fact that this is not an honorable way to make money.
Cuddlypuppy.com is a disgrace! Goes to prove that people like this and other puppy millers are only out for the almighty $$$ and do not have the interest of the animal at heart. Selling mixed breeds and "delecate" toy breeds filling the public's mind with hogwash. What kind of a guarantee was that anyway? For life??? Then it states for 8 years! Guess you can figure your new pet will only live to 8 years. You need to run a story on the cruelty of puppy millers and other breeders that sell to pet stores just for the buck! Fuel for PETA and HSUS, which supports PETA and other fanatics is what this teenager is.
This is pathetic that a huge magizine such as PEOPLE would not be aware of the millions of pure-bred dogs that are euthanized every year. Rather than praise this kid, he should be chastised for using living, breathing animal babies for profit without any knowledge of what happens to them.
This is terrible I for one will no longer support people magazine for even thinking of publishing this as a success, how many others now will want to start!
The people at Cuddlypuppy.com must be extremely busy in their efforts to provide the right homes for all of their critters. That said, here's what the "real" breeders do. They do home visits before placement of their puppies to make sure that the environment is going to be in the best interest of the dog-not the breeder's checkbook. There are countless hours that are spent doing community education and breed competion. Not every breed fits every household. Some households would do better without a dog. The real breeder belongs to the new owner "for life" of the puppy. That means answering questions, helping to deal with health and behavior problems, and if necessary taking the dog back. That's spelled out in the sale agreement upon placement of the dog. A real breeder doesn't advertise puppies. Their placements are done via word of mouth. Do your networking via dog shows and other owners of the breed that you're interested in. And for heavens sake stay away from the newspapers and internet. Having the opportunity to meet the breeder and the stock is a very valuable thing. Puppies are NOT a commodity to be placed on a sale block and sold to the highest bidder. They're not dollar signs on four feet. The puppies are a commitment that is to be taken seriously for at least 10-15 years. That includes staying the course for the good and the bad that may come along. Would you do any less for a family member? That's what the dogs should be....a family member-just with another pair of legs. As you can see, this isn't a moneymaking proposition due to the "commitment and itegrity" that is exhibited, but instead for the love of the breed. And
God bless those that rescue those that are discarded by irresponsible people that decided that the newest critter on the market doesn't fit with their lifestyle.
Puppies aren't like books or clothing that you can send back if you don't like them or they don't fit just right. How can you glowingly publicize the sale of dogs over the internet?! A family friend should be chosen in person from caring and knowledgable breeders. This article has done nothing to help the already shamefull plight of puppies in this country and has likely resulted in greater sales of poorly breed, unhealth animals. What about teens that don't make any money but instead volunteer for animals shelters, caring for discarded and mistreated pets and helping to educate people about responsible pet ownership. Why not promote those kind of teens instead?
Responsible breeders spend endless hours screening new dog owners, health testing the puppies' parents and helping new owners with their puppies. This young entrepeneur is not looking out for the welfare of the animal, only his pocketbook. Please do not condone such practices of marketing live animals for profit.
We need to open the eyes of the general public to the pain & suffering these poor animals go through....how many hands they are passed to because they are sick & not given the proper medical treatment they needed from day one. They are then "thrown away" and one day may be lucky enough to get to a rescue group who will try to fix them up & get them a REAL loving home! The rescue groups are ANGELS trying to undo what these ignorant money hungry people have done to animals. Some of these poor creatures never live long enough to know the comfort of human touch, the warmth of a soft blanket nor the feeling of a full belly. Please STOP them now !!!!
Apparently People magazine did not research the sources of this "titan's" product. Please reconsider your approach to this subject. Printing an article on the tragic lives of puppy mill dogs and the PEOPLE that buy them would be a good start.
Zara Heartwood
Azarel (registered) Shetland Sheepdogs and
Rescue Coordinator
Shetland Sheepdog Club of BC (Canada)
Perhaps People magazine should do an article to show what happens to dogs that end up in mill situations. And...if the "Teen Titan"cared more about the lives of these animals than he did about making a quick buck...maybe he'd actually make a significant difference in the world.
Please run this article. The public is so uneducated in this. I rescue all the unwanted unloved dogs and pay for their spay and neuter out of my pocket on minimun wage. I warked at the shelter and had to help euthanize dogs and cats. They inbreed to much and then when the dogs are all used up they dump them in the shelters. Help the dogs who need help please.
Thank you for this petition. I feel sickened by this article by People Magazine. Coming from a People Mag subscriber, I demand an article exposing puppy mills and featuring some of the great rescuers we have in this country.
The almighty dollar wins again!!! Try browsing an adoption site or look into the eyes of shelter dogs. Most of these "cuddly puppies" are impluse purchases that are abused or abandoned when they are no longer "cute and cuddly". Shame on the human race.
how amazingly stupid we humans are--if only the ones who can't speak for themselves could---we would learn soooooooooo much. people magazine please educate yourslf before you publish these stories
Being on the Board of Directors of North American Shar-Pei Rescue (NASPR), I have to wonder how many of the dogs that he has sold have entered our system to be re-homed. This is disgraceful that a well known National publication would honor and encourage this kind of enterprise.
Cuoldn't this 16 year old have found an enterprise that didn't encourage puppy mill "breeders". He should be mature enough to know how these animals are bred and cared for or should I say "not cared for" they are just a dollar sign with four paws. Shame on you Timothy.
WAKE UP to reality!!! Do you have any idea how many pure bred dogs are in kill shelters?? They were once cute puppies too then grew up. Do you know what it is like to hold them in your arms while they die?? I do!!! The worst part is we are all left to face the casualities of your irresponsibilites, to promote articles bragging about buying and selling life like this. these animals that are used, abused, starved, neglesct and die because of you, the blood is on your hands and all those like you. Do something to make a difference, educate yourself first then educate others!! DO something with from your heart not from you wallet!!
I enjoy your magazine but I am dissappointed in your lack of education on responsible dog ownership. Please take the time to write an article on puppy mills, responsible pet ownership, and educating oneself on why this is a wrong market for a young man and his family.
How can people treat animals like this? Dogs (and cats and other domesticated animals) are the purest form of "humanity", with their unconditional love. How anyone can view an animal as a way to make money is totally incomprehensible to me.
I can't believe People Magazine could be so short sighted. Just another example of a puppy mill with no knowledge of dogs, genetics, health screening, etc.
As a member of a rescue group, I have the unfortunate experience of seeing the results of these puppy mills, as well as the results of dogs becoming popular because of movies and commercials. These dogs are simply thrown to the wolves when the owners do not want them, or cannot care for them, either from disease or neglect, or just plain ignorance. This kid is probably just a child who does not know any better, but his mother should. Our children need to be educated about how to choose the correct breed, where to get the puppies, how to care for them, and they also need to be educated about all the rescue groups and shelters out there.
have the person who wrote the article,do an article on all the dog rescures and the dogs that are left at the human socities from people who buy dogs and then they don't want them any more.that's whats wrong with our society everyone wants something small and cute.when they get bigger or has a health problem no one whats them.
This kid's business venture is supporting animal abuse. It is dissappointing to think that a quality publication like "People" would want to glamorize the horrific puppymill trade. Kid or not, anyone purchasing animals from puppymill breeders is contributing to the abuse of helpless animals. Shame on you "People" magazine. Step up to the plate and tell the other side of the story !!!!!
Promoting the indiscriminate breeding of mixed breeds to make a $ is utterly shameful. Breed characteristics are so different and many health problems, physical deformities etc. will no doubt occurr. How can such a supposedly responsible publication endorse this practice.
