All National Breed clubs have a code of ethics that their members must abide by to remain in good standing. They cannot sell puppies to pet stores, puppy mills, etc. If there are particular health problems relevant to their breed, they screen their dogs to make sure breeding stock is free from these defects - hip dysplasia, retinal problems, thyroid problems, etc.
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am shocked that People magazine would encourage puppy milling.
Isn't your magazine Editor aware of the
conditions in which these dogs and pups are kept? They are horrendous.
Furthermore, innocent people buy these dogs or pups and are faced with monumental medical bills trying to keep these dogs alive due to the in-breeding and conditions in which they were raised. It will be a long, long, time before I ever purchase a People magazine again.
It would be appreciated if your magazine also published an article about the downside to puppymills and the need to curb overbreeding that has led to so many dogs dying in city animal shelters or worse.
As a dog lover/owner and one who works in rescue, this use of the internet to sell puppies with no regard for the quality or health of the animal as well as no knowledge of the situation into which the animal is being sent is just another form of irresponsible animal abuse.This type of irresponsible profitmaking encourages puppy mills andcontributes to the number of dogs placed in shelters and euthanized This "enterprising"teen's business is really just another example of a money-grubbing, materialistic society that sees only the bottom line profit without regard for the collatoral damage it causes. Dogs are not doodads that can be thrown into a drawer and forgotten.Dogs are contributing members of our society, working as therapy dogs, in search and rescue, and as working companions for the disabled.They are intelligent and cognizant. They deserve more consideration and respect than Timothy Hampton and his mother seem to have for them.
Eeeeeekkkkk!!
We, responsible breeders, have worked so hard to educate the public about the horrors of puppy mills. I am appalled that People magazine would support this man who not only perpetuates the suffering of dogs but of the owners that buy these badly bred, hereditary nightmares.
I love your mag but won't pick up another one until you run another article recanting the wisdom of this one.
I cannot believe that a national magazine like People would propogate something like a puppy mill when all you have to do is read a newspaper or watch your local news to see that things like this get shut down all the time. What happens to all the animals?
What is this young man going to be when he grows up if he is allowed to sell these animals now. Next thing you know he will be dealing with human beings.
Our Teens are in desperate need to understand the larger far reaching consequences of their individual actions. To promote one teens money making efforts, however creative at the expense of living animals who are seen as "product" illustrates the worst most shortsighted lesson I can think of to teach them. Shame on People magazine!
Thousands of dogs are euthanized every year for lack of homes. Puppy mill puppies grow up, maybe, to be dogs with major health and mental problems. Promote the adoption of rescued dogs, either from various animal shelter facilities or rescue groups that cover the breed and the nation. Do not promote the careless breeding done by puppymillers.
I think puppy mills are a disgrace. This is how sweet innocent pets become beaten and brutilized. Puppy mill owners do not care about the pets or what happens to them. It is all about a quick buck. That is not what it should be about. Dogs are supposed to be man's best friend and should be treated as such.
As a veterinarian who has sadly seen many puppies who were obtained from puppy mills and who suffer from devastating health and emotional problems, I beg you to address the other side of this issue. While this young man should be applauded for his initiative in setting up a business, he most certainly is enabling puppy mills and irresponsible breeders to sell more puppies. Dogs in puppy mills frequently spend their entire lives in cages, without the attention that dogs crave and without adequate medical care. Their only value is in producing puppies and when they can no longer do that, they are disposed of. Health issues are not screened for, and genetic diseases are widespread in dogs from puppy mills. Responsible breeders do their best to only breed those dogs that are screened for health problems so that they won't perpetuate genetic diseases and they interview their prospective buyers to make sure that their puppies wind up in the best of homes. Responsiblr breeders will also take back a dog at any point in its life if the new owner can no longer care for it. They would never allow a third party to place their puppies in homes that the breeder knows nothing about. Please cover another story about the differences between responsibe breeders and those in it for the money. Encourage people to buy purebred dogs only from reputable breeders so that puppy mills no longer can continue to sentence breeding dogs to a life of misery, or to save a life and adopt a dog from a shelter - many of the dogs in shelters are purebreds that came from puppy mills.
I have seen first hand the horrific life of dogs in puppy mills - Please don't endorse such operations in a national magazine that some people take as "gospel" People Magazine, please publish an article about the horrors of puppy mills and the rescue organizations that work so hard to eliminate such breeding grounds.
Janna in Illinois
I'll sign the petition only if you let me edit the material appearing here. I firmly believe that more effective results are obtained when the writing is clear, coherent, and grammatically correct.
As an example, the first sentence in last paragraph of the material written by Leigha G. on 11/1/04 should read: "Enclosed in this petition ARE the names of women and men who work passionately for rescue." In the last sentence of the 1st paragraph, "who's" should be "whose".
Thanks!
Obviously YOU didn't do your Homework on Puppy Mills and this is just what this teen is doing. Exploiting dogs, to the already burgeoning supply. Only to wind up in Shelters, Pounds and running the streets. Eventually ending in death, one way or another.
PLEASE print a retraction on this article. Stress the numerous animals in shelters because of poor breeding & placement practices. Thousands of dogs die everyday- what kind of return policy does this child give? Will he guarentee for health defects that are WIDESPRED w/ poorly bred dogs? This is not a credit for young entrepreneurs to follow. TERRIBLE, just terrible. I do rescue work and see it on a first hand basis. I have rehomed numerous dogs, handled in agility, conformation, field trials & obedience. From someone WITH rescue dogs, PLEASE print information warning against puppy mills, ill bred dogs & the importance of rescue.
With all the unwanted animals dying in shelters these days, I am appalled that anyone thought this was a good idea! If people want a purebred puppy, just visit one of these shelters, you can find plenty there.
I live in Texas adn I know our government & police force have been trying very hard to put an end to these puppy mills. I think all states should do the same. The last thing we need is a national magazine promoting the puppy mill practice. And just what does that say about our society when parents are teaching their kids how to screw people over; because basically that's what is happening. When an unsuspecting person buys one of these puppys they are being screwed! More times than not these puppies have health issues that either cause them to die at a young age or have major health problems that end up costing a fortune. Not only do these individuals get screwed financially but mentally also.
It is cruel and unjust to have animals breed for money! It makes me sick to think that our legal system won't protect animals. There should be criminal charges laid for people who breed animals with the purpose of making a profit!!
Any idiot can become a puppy profiteer. There are NO entrepreneurial skills required in brokering factory produced pups to a mostly uneducated public. Timothy Hampson and his cuddlypuppy brokerage should be shut down immediately!
Puppy mills are a very bad thing. If this guy had ever worked at a rescue he would see the negative effects of puppy mills. They are just irresponsible breeders who are out to make a buck and aren't contributing the best genes to the breed. True breeders do it for the love of the breed.
Shame on People Mag. for publicly supporting such an endeavor! This is exactly the reason there are so many animals in shelters, and those are the lucky ones! I hope People will give equal time to the Animal Rights groups as well!
It's really sad to see a kid who looks like he's still nursing on "mama" to call himself a breeder. How about People magazine contacting REAL BREEDERS instead of this joke for a breeder.Anyone in their right mind won't endorse such stupidity on a national magazine's part!
Shame on you for publishing an article about an unethical breeder. Be sure to do a followup in a year and see how many of these poorly bred dogs are in shelters or worse....dead!
This young man, his mother and the website are no more than brokers for puppy mills. How can People magazine staffers be so uninformed as to promote them?
Being successful at making money is one thing but when it is at the expense of innocent animals that will either be abused or end up in rescue you are now making money on the backs, sweat and tears of others. That is just plain wrong!
I was appalled after seeing this article last night. Not only did the story make it seem like a good idea, I can now see other people doing the same, which will put many more dogs in harm's way. Let this kid spend ONE MONTH working in a shelter. Let him hold the dogs as they are injected and take their last breaths, their hearts beating their last beats. Better yet, let him do this to dogs HE has "sold", which have been dumped or surrendered due to one of the many problems facing dogs which come from mills - which is where his "stock" most likely comes from. NO respectable, responsible breeder would allow their pups to be sold in such a manner.
These animals have little souls too. They have no voice. We the people are their voice. Puppy mills are inhumane and people need to be educated about them.
This is a disgrace. Puppy mills - commercial breeders - do no service to the people buying pets on an emotional whim. These dogs do not make good pets, and the ignorant people blame the breed, not the breeders. Pet buyers need to be educated by a certified breeder knowing they are getting good health and temperament in their dog's lines. Shame on you People Magazine for promoting such a disgraceful job.
Patti
Please run a story about puppy mills and the thousands of dogs who end up in the pounds or shelters to be "put to sleep" because of this type of people.
I was sadden to see this promoted as a good venture for a teen by People Magazine. Especially when I went to the Hybrid section of the website and saw MIXED BREED Pups beung "marketed" as special for outrageous prices
Please put an article in your magazine telling the "real" story of puppymills. No matter how you dress them up - they are still treating animals that are ment to be our beloved pets as nothing more then commerical livestock. We treat the livestock we eat better!!
It is atrocious that so many people are working so hard to stop puppy mills - a selfish and cruel business, and find that a major magazine is not only condoning it, but promoting it!
I can't believe the irresponsibility of People in running this article. What does a young person know about breeding dogs? Shame on you, People Magazine.
This is outrageous!
Please stop the sale of puppies over the internet! Too many dogs are being put down due to tempermant problems already. This assures people buying something they know nothing about.
