An AAS supporter sent us this correspondence with People Magazine.

Letter #1 sent to People Magazine:

Shame on People Magazine for giving an award to this young person who sells innocent puppies on the internet! Millions of animal advocates across the world have been trying to shut down this kind of operation, and now your magazine endorses and helps promote it. This type of business is what causes the abuse of puppies and the proliferation of puppy mills. It is inhumane, and irresponsible to sell dogs in this manner. I will no longer buy your magazine and I will encourage others not to either.

Reply from People Magazine:

We appreciate your letter and your concerns. When we chose to profile Timothy Hampson as a successful young entrepreneur we visited his home and took care to look into his business practices. Timothy told us he checks out and visits all his breeders personally to insure the puppies are raised in healthy conditions and has the breeders follow a veterinarian-approved health protocol before he accepts their animals. Most of the breeders, he says, have only one or two breeding pairs. He screens buyers with a detailed application form, has a close relationship with his veterinary clinic—which we also contacted—keeps clean and healthy premises himself and provides links to animal shelters on his website.

We at PEOPLE are concerned for the welfare of animals. We're aware of the puppy-mill issue and have run stories on it in our pages in the past and may do so at some time in the future.

Again, thank you for your letter.

Maureen Fulton

For the editors

Letter #2 sent to People Magazine:

Well, perhaps your researchers should look more carefully before they write. This note was sent to me by someone on a dog rescue internet message board. These comments are written by an AKC (American Kennel Club) Judge:

"This information is now in the hands of the State of Texas, City of Houston
and Humane League of Houston. They are all going to investigate this kid.
Apparently, he has no kennel license or business license and no vet."

I hope that People will contact some of the above organizations, and do a follow up on this story and print the truth, even if it means People will have egg on its face for awarding a young con artist. I am sure when the truth does come out, another publication will write about this fiasco anyway.

And one more thing I'd like to add about this issue. You said this kid "visits all his breeders personally to insure the puppies are raised in healthy conditions.."

His web site clearly states this:

We are a worldwide network of breeders providing happy, healthy, puppies to loving families.

And.........

Shipping Is Available Nationwide!

Do you honestly think this kid pays for plane tickets and flies all around the world inspecting breeders? Did your researcher ask to see receipts to prove this? And anyone who ships puppies "Nationwide", cannot do home checks, which is the single most important part of finding homes for dogs! No reputable breeder would EVER use the services of someone like this kid. They would personally inspect any potential home and deal one-on-one with the new dog owners.

Face it, People Magazine was conned big time, and by a 16 yr old kid at that. You guys have some serious damage control to do. Might I suggest you start with an article about what this kid is REALLY doing? People Magazine has just helped perpetuate the puppymill/brokerage business, and right before Christmas. If you want to write something that even remotely resembles the truth, start by asking people in the dog rescue community who are left with the task of cleaning up messes left behind by irresponsible pet shufflers like Mr Hampson.

*Note: the use of the word "insure" instead of "ensure" was People Magazine's error, not mine.