When a quality magazine writes mindless articles such as this one, makes me wonder if they ran out of things to write about - next time, do your research before giving a%$holes such as this guy and his mother free publicity!!
Businesses such as this that exploit innocent animals for profit must be stopped. The prices are obscene for animals coming from the puppy factories that supply them. I thought People Magazine had more integrity than this. They should investigate puppy millers and put an article in their magazine about them.
I am very disappointed that People Magazine would print an article about a person running a puppy mill type business. This is not a reputable business this boy is running. This is how most puppies end up in shelters. Please reconsider running this boy in your article.
How horrable that you do not have a clue as to the puppy mills this kid is buying his pups from,sick and badly bred! Any one who gets a dog off the internet is nuts! And you should be ashamed for your mag. for backing puppy mills. Any one who knows the dog world knows of PM'S !!!
I cannot imagine any reason why you would encourage young people to think of breeding dogs as a way to finacial gain .please allow an article to be printed on puppy mills and thier inhumane horrors,
This is simply disgusting. It makes those of us who love their breed and are careful with the genetic problems that can and do exist and do an honest job of providing support and knowledge to our buyers sick.
As a person who is involved with breed rescue...this article saddens me. Dogs from responsible breeders need to be carefully placed...not sold over the internet. Breeding for small size is not always in the best interests of the breed.
What Timothy Hampson is doing is a tragedy. If you continue to support this kind of irresponsibility I will stop buying your magazine, and will encourage my friends to do the same.
someone needs to introduce this young man to the world of rescue. I wonder how many of his "Cuddle puppies" end up at the homeless shelter. I am highly disappointed that People Magazine would print an article praising the efforts of a
'puppymill owner'with no research as to what a
puppymill is
and does! Shame on People Magazine. Please stop printing articles glorifying people that are financially benefiting from the suffering of animals. This teen should put his efforts into saving the homeless dogs and cats in his local shelters.
Instead of applauding the teen for his entrepreneurial skills, he should be shut down for putting profit above the value of a life. Shame on him, and shame on People Magazine!
What this "titan" is demonstrating is complete ignorance in his line of work or a complete lack of caring for the consequences of his actions. How awful that People is promoting those who are responsible for thousands of deaths a day.
Unfortunately this generation has been led to believe that making money is important without the benefits of understanding the moral consequences. The media is not making this any better!
I am extremely disappointed that People Magazine would publish and, thereby, praise such an act. There are thousands of homeless animals in shelters. In addition, many animals are constanly being rescued from puppymills of this sort for maltreatment. I would hope that such a reputable magazine would think twice before supporting this sort of business. Or else I will be forced to think twice before supporting this magazine.
This is outragous that you would promote such an irresponisble act on the part of this boy and his parents. Do they have no sense of right or wrong? Do they not care about the suffering of these puppymill puppies? Instead of glorifing this boy you as a responisble journalist should be educating the public on the suffering of innocent puppies caused by unscuplous breeders and puppy brokers such as this boy. He should be ashamed of himself, not proud.
Have you ever seen a five year old golden retriever female, who does not walk in a straight line? She takes two steps, then turns, two steps and turns because she has spent her whole life in a crate as a breeder. She is terrified of people, having only had contact with angry puppy mill men who yell at them and worse. Show both sides of this issue!
People Magazine should turn this around and start a national reconition of the sick and in human behavior we all allow to continue to these poor animals. Stop the abuse America!
With the thousands of homeless animals that were once "cuddly puppies" in shelters across the nation, its hard to condone any business (teen or adult) that profits from the sale of dogs.
I cannot believe that a magazine of your quality would print such a story - - evidently you've never see pictures of a puppy mill - - do some research next time before you praise someone or something. We need do save the animals that are abandoned in the country, not breed more to be abandoned.
I admire it when a young person has an entrepreneur spirit, but someone needs to introduce this young man to the world of rescue. I wonder how many of his "Cuddle puppies" end up at the homeless shelter.
I am highly disappointed that People Magazine would print an article praising the efforts of a
'puppymill owner'with no research as to what a
puppymill is
and does! Shame on People Magazine, you have lost my subscription.
I've always had high reguards for People Magazine. We buy it every month. But this article "Teen Titans" I VERY MUCH disapprove of. With over 20,00 unwanted dogs put to sleep, every DAY, in the country (not counting Agressive dogs)I don't think this article should have been run.I have 2 Champion dogs & I STLL won't breed.I also think some sort of article should be done on "Back yard Breeders" & "Puppy Mills" that only care about Money. Thank You
Bob Joye
As the proud parent of a healthy dog I hate to see people who practice cruel breeding habits to be encouraged. The readers of your magazine need to know what they're getting themselves into ahead of time. The costly surprise isn't fair to them or the animal.
As Tim says in his site (bottom of the oage), prospective pet parents should consider adopting first before buying from a puppy mill. Maybe he should out that ON TOP of the page, before appealing to the hearts of people with pictures of his pups. Puppymills exist because there is a demand for their pups, ergo NO DEMAND MEANS NO SALES. There are a million dogs out there just looking for homes. Sadly, a lot of the Christmas puppies that will be sold this Holiday season just might end up nowhere after the honeymoon is over and people realize the serious and long-term commitment it takes to properly raise a pet.
I understand this teen puppy miller lives near Houston. If "People" magazine wanted a good kid story, a young man who is 14-15 has been giving up his Saturdays to K9 Corral for 2-3 years to help dogs of all ages get a good home. I hope the puppy miller is reported and shut down.
This is such an important topic. There are far too many dogs out there being placed in shelters and being forced to lead terrible lives for no reason at all.
I find this abhorable. As someone who has worked in pet rescue, volunteered and fostered abused, neglected and forgotten pets, I find this glorification of inhumane capitalism deplorable. Who in their right mind would write an irresponsible article such as this one, let alone condone and congratulate the misguided actions of this obviously uneducated minor (whose mother is obviously even less educated).
I applaud a teenager with gumptiiion to do something more than seeek and destroy in video games however, he needs to understand the ramifications of his decision beyond a profit making venture and his mother should take the time and responsibility to teach him the values , ethics and morals involved in his business. This young man may not be truly aware and it is understandable he is a child, however his adult supervisor should be and is ultimately responsible for addressing the results ...kids don't understnad ramification only gratification it is not their fault but the adults in their lives for failing to educate
Breeders and owners of Puppy Mills care little about those poor creatures; those poor animals oftentimes get sick for lack of care, live in filthy conditions and get little, if any kind of attention and or affection. These horrible places need to be outlawed!
People Magazine has erred in lauding a young entrepreneur in a selfish, inhumane endeavor. Please now at least present the other side of the story and help educate the public to the horrors of the puppymill industry.
I would like to invite one of your writers to accompany me through the shelters I cover as an evaluator for German Shepherd Rescue and show them first hand what happens to these puppy mill dogs. Please be sure you send some one who has a cast iron stomach. Refering to these idiots up as entrepreneurs is unconscienable. This is the most disgraceful article you have ever published. On second thougth please send your editor. Perhaps if someone in authority within your organization has to hold the leg of an adorable pup when it is being killed your magazine will think about morality before publishing such trash.
You have an obligation to be balanced, fair and truthful to the public about the misrepresentation and confusion these types of "businesses" represent to the public -- it is insidious that much suffering, abuse and ruination of many breeds hides behind what appears to the uneducated as a well-run, compassionate and animal-friendly enterprise. Please have a conscience and help balance this information for your readers.
Hopefully this teenager will put his intellegence for business in a better and different direction. Something to help the world instead of causing more pain. However, attacking him and his mother is not the answer. Education is the answer and I hope that People Magazine will stand up to what they have done. The only thing we can continue doing is telling people the truth about Puppy Mills wich is where this child gets his puppies whether he wants to see it or not. How can you update your puppy selection daily without the use of Puppy Mills? Misguided, yes....uneducated, yes....this kid probably had honest intentions when he started by selling his friends puppies. Who wouldn't enjoy the happiness a puppy brings to someone who really wants to care for a puppy? But it may have gotten out of control...I don't know. But signing this petition is a start, working in rescue is another and talking, writing to people is another! I agree that People Magazine has made a very grave mistake and I hope that they will HONOR the thousands and thousands of people who rescue and help all of the unwanted animals in the world.
You'd think the writers at People magazine would know that a kid who makes $70K per year selling dogs is not something that deserves praise! This is only going to encourage more people to try to make money this way! I couldn't believe I was reading this is people magazine. And then for them to even publish the website where you can place your order for one of these poor dogs!
It is disgusting that you are promoting the sale of puppy mill dogs. THat is nothing to be proud of. If you are a reputable magazine you will run the a story on the reality of puppymills and the overpopulation of pets in our nation's shelters. We must not reward foolish behavior.
I was disgusted to see people magazine promoting puppy mills. Do you know how many more people are going to get into the puppy mill business because of your glowing suggestion that you can make so much money doing it? You should be ashamed of your self.
Shelters and rescues are overrun with dogs that need homes and more in kill shelters that are euthanized if homes aren't found in an alloted time frame. We don't need an young entrepreneur coming up with a business promoting the sale of additional animals who may end up unwanted and put to death thru no fault of their own.
Puppy mills should not be encouraged in any way. Responsible dog breeding and placement is the only fair way to treat these dogs to ensure they won't end up in shelters or on the streets.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS !I looked at the site and all kinds of puppies are being sold including MIXED BREEDS ! Bred on PURPOSE... This site needs to be shut down and People magazine should NOT publish any articles promoting this PUPPYMILL !
I think it is deplorable that this "business" be glorified in your magazine and put up as an example for people young and old to follow at the expense of animals. No mention is made of health testing done- on puppies or parents, instead they offer a guarantee that is supposed to imply quality. This "Teen Titan" is not breeding to better the breed nor does he count on anyone taking him up on his guarantee, and if they do it will be lost in legal limbo. He is a broker selling puppies from puppy mills and unknowledgeable backyard breeders who are out to make a buck at the expense of these dogs and puppies. Quality breeders care about thier breeds, health testing, temperament and quality and where thier puppies go. Most lose money by the time they are done doing health tests, shipping thier dogs across the country to breed to the best mate, campaining thier dogs in shows and events to prove they are an excellent example of the breed, etc.That does not include the hours spent with thier dogs and puppies loving, nurturing and training them so they may be the best they can be- be it show dog, obedience titled or a loving companion. They are willing to alter a gorgeous dog they paid top dollar for that failed to pass health testing rather rather than cash in on his name for the money. They keep in contact with the people who buy thier pups, rejoicing with each accomplishments- even small ones and cry when they finally pass of old age. They are they are there to offer support as needed. They happily take back even old dogs that cannot be kept due to circumstance. They are commited to thier breed and what they have bred.
Advertise this for what it is- peddling of innocent puppies for the sake of making money with no regard to thier future nor the future of the breeds.
Please publish a follow-up to this misguided story, telling your readers the OTHER side of the puppy mill story. This practice should not be encouraged, for any reason.
I find is shameful and irresponsible of "People" to publish this article without questioning where these puppies are sold and who hold responsibility for their well-being. Perhaps big money could be made brokering babies via the internet. Would that be acceptable to "People"?
