As a responsible breeder, I breed infrequently and selectively. It takes a great deal of my time staying in touch with the owners of my puppies, making sure that my pups stay happy and healthy in their new homes. I also stand ready to take these dogs back AT ANY TIME in their lives, if their owners can no longer care for them. This is what a RESPONSIBLE breeder does!
These teenagers are running a puppymill. They are breeding indiscriminately and pumping tons of puppies into a country that already kills thousands of unwanted pets every day. That People magazine would glorify such an activity is reprehensible.
Please be responsible corporate citizens and give equal time to rescue organizations and shelters that work long and hard to find good homes for thousands of lost and abandoned dogs and cats. The last thing that your magazine needs to advertise or promote is back yard breeding. There are horror stories that surround puppymills, which although it has a cute name, "Cuddypuppy" belongs in this category. Your article leaves the false impression that all dog merchants, particularly those who sell dogs over the internet, are responsible individuals. The real story is that the majority of these individuals don't care about the conditions of the dogs but are only concerned with how much money they can make. As a long-time reader of your magazine, I'm appalled and ask that you devote equal time to rescue organizations and shelters. There are many warm hearted stories associated with these organizations, please take the time to find them and put them into your magazine.
Your young entrepreneur should take a walk into the puppy mills that he is supporting. It breaks my heart to know that there is and organization being highlighted by People Magazine as being GREAT. This is wrong on so many levels.
It is a death sentence to many puppies and definitely to the breeding parents. They are locked in small cages and not given proper food, water or vaccines. Many are bred over and over in a short period of time.
You can tell by the thousands of letters that people are outraged.
The only right thing to do is write an article on the puppy mills. If people knew where pet shop pups came from we could close down the mills.
These types of breeders must be stopped, there are too many "bad temperered" puppies from in-breeding that injure children. Some years ago we adopted an unwanted 4 month old terrier cross from a humane society and despite going to obedience and training courses with this dog, he was incorrigible and we ended up having to euthenize him. It was a sad day for our whole family, but he was not safe around our own children, let alone visiting youngsters. It was suggested that this puppy had come from a puppy mill just like "Cuddlypuppy.com" Let's stop the over production of puppies, buy from a reputable breeder.
Thank You
Responsible breeders select sires for their dam that improve the minor conformation faults the line.Bone structure creates fluid movement. Conciencious breeders maintain strong pedigrees by showing their breeding stock and earning the respect and priviledge of breeding to genetically tested AKC conformation champions thus improving the breed. Responsible breeders enjoy the art of genetics the compitition of the ring and the joy of their puppy going to a responsible home that was willing to pay more for a responsibly bred puppy that was raised in a clean enviroment by breeders who cared enough about the breed to put money and heart into what they stand for.
Treating puppys like merchandise to be sold on the internet can only encourage backyard breeding and puppy farms/mills. This teen and his website should not be celebrated or publicised.
Sirs, There is no way that a teen can ensure an adequate, safe, and loving home for animals sold over the internet. This article praises and promotes a concept that gives little concern to the long term welfare of the animals. Please do an artcle on an animal shelter that shows the other side of irresponsible animal placement
Thank You
Samuel E. Leach
Humane Society of Calvert County (MD)
I will not buy another People Magazine after reading what I just read, and having seen this boy's site. If this boy loves animals so much, he should be helping them by working at a shelter or rescue group, and not by being a supporter of puppy mills. This is absurd!
If what I read is true, as I've not read the article, your lifeless attitude towards God's creation is repulsive. If you have any kind of conscious, please allow this petition and it's reasons to be heard. Thank You
Animals should only be bred with restraint and sold with a duty of care for the wellbeing of the animal. We may think we are owners, but so did the slave owners. At best we are custodians and must be answerable and responsible for our actions. If we consider we have higher intelligence then why not use it!
Please, Please have some compassion for these animals, they did not ask for this! They don't need to die because of our (people) stupidity, don't let this go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all shame on your mother for allowing to embark on such a huge responsibility at your age. You should be in school, studying and preparing for college.
Think about going to college to be a vet. THEN you will see what happens to these poor puppies once they find a home, a few months down the road many vet trips will be in order for them due to the careless breeding the careless breeder done.
If you had done your homework on this endeavor in the first place you would have found out that these kinds of breeders have no concern what so ever for the dog/puppy they created, other than the dollars that line their pockets when they are sold. Such a shame that we live in a society where a human can take Gods precious creatures and throw them in a cage and do what they will with them.
Yes I am a breeder, but I do my homework on my dogs and their backgrounds, as well as the backgrounds of the dogs that they are bred to. Health checks are done as well as health test and tempermant tests.
My dogs are not mixed mutts, or hybrids as you want to so glorious label them, they are purebred and are shown in AKC conformation. They ALSO live in my home, not in a laundry room or secluded area away from me. They share my whole home, my life, my couch, my dinners, my everything. THAT is what makes a good dog and it's breeder.!!
What this site does to exploit puppies and the millers that breed them is dispicable. People Magazine should be very very ashamed of themselves for even considering doing a article such as this let alone actually doing it!! Please do YOUR homework and run another article with concern for the animal in mind.
I was disgusted when I read this article and sick to my stomach that I actually subscribe to a magazine that promotes puppymills!! People Magazine needs to educate people on puppymills and the way that they are run!
Put yourself in the shoes of these animals dumped into shelters because of thoughtless breeders, homeless, afraid, unwanted, unloved. Wouldn't you want a chance at a life with a loving family? Many of those bred in puppy mills will never get that chance. Please allow an article to enlighten people to the reality of breeders. The reality is much different than the love and fluff they present.
Please devote an article to the horros of 'puppy-mills'. There are several articles to research as a starting ground, as well as many good websites that describe the horrors.
Please do an article on "Commercial Breeding" for dogs. Then you will learn "Why" all Rescue Groups are upset by your story. Until you see for yourself, you will never know the horror of these animals lives.
If articles are not run informing People readers of puppymills and rescue dogs, I will never again purchase People magazine or support its advertisers.
People Magazine needs to show the facts about Puppy Mills and the life long issues these dogs face, including illness, behavior problems, and what about the puppies not purchased, what happens to them. There are many responsible breeders of pure breed dogs that try to improve that breed. These are ADULTS with the experience and moral responsibilty to ensure thier dogs are adoptable. This child should not be blamed for the lack of moral charecter of his parents. People Magazine should know better than to condone such behavior.
Please PLEASE, research what puppymills really are !!.. They are a living hell for dogs and all for a dollar !!! Conditions are horrific, and the treatment of these companion animals it nill.
I am appalled that People Magazine is blind to the puppy mill problem in the US. To promote this via free publicity in the magazine is horrible. Where is the article on animal rescue????? This is just what we DONT need...more positive promotion for the people who are responsible for much of the overpopulation of dogs and euthanasia.I WILL NEVER LOOK AT ANOTHER ISSUE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE UNLESS THEY PUT IN A FULL FEATURE ON THE PLIGHT OF DOGS IN AMERICA, RESCUE, ETC.
Puppymills breed unhealthy, unsocialized dogs and perpetuate untold suffering. Please help educate the public about the alternatives--rescued dogs from good shelters and well-run rescue groups; and puppies from responsible breeders.
All animals need a loving home. Some people think of their animals as their children. Would you send your children out into the world sick and with someone that you did not know?
It is best when a puppy buyer is interviewed and the breeds general needs aere discussed. Fewer pure breeds end up on death row(pound) if they arer placed in homes that know what to expect. High energy dogs in apartments usually end up discarded. etc a puppy is for life not for Christmas.
What is this teen learning, humane treatment of animals? I don't think so. He is learning that he can make money from the suffering of animals. There is no dignity in this, only shame.
I think such websites need to be dealtwith. I think it's great that Timothy Hampson is willing to work so hard but he needs to find a better way to make his fortune. Dogs or any animal aren't meant to be used to get rich.
Please consider giving equal time to people who are involved in Rescue. There are always two sides to every issue and in this article, it sounds as tho you've covered one side, now let's hit the other!!
