Update: Kathrine commented on the following - Pet Fashion Week sent out postcards with a sponsor named “The Dog Magazine.” Can’t find ANY info on it, but the logo looks VERY similar to “The New York Dog Magazine.” Checked Pet Fashion Week’s website and there’s no mention of “The Dog Magazine.” Maybe they’re planning to debut it at that event??? - Good question Kathrine, we checked out the Pet Fashion Week sponsor list and no mention of the magazine there. We think it’s a done deal and rumor has it money is owed by the thousands and there are a lot of pissed off advertisers. We’ll make a new post if we find out any new info. In the meantime, why not subscribe to Paw Print? Christoper Ameruoso runs that publication and he’s so entrenched in this business we’re pretty sure it’s not going anywhere soon 
I don’t know about anyone else but I was a subscriber to both of these magazines and suddenly POOF, no magazines have arrived in my mail lately. Calls have been made (and emails to the editor, Hilary O’Hagan) but no call backs or replies have been received.
What gives?
If anyone else is (or should I say was) a subscriber and you’re also experiencing this, email me or comment right here.
Interesting. Over at Dig & Scratch we published a post about this just this morning!
Check it out: www.digandscratch.com
August 7th, 2007 at 1:58 pmI hated this magazine. I subscribed to both and when you’d get the NY edition, it was the same crap that was in the Hollywood edition and vice versa. It was a waste of money and when I canceled my subscription to the Hollywood edition, they never did refund the difference like they said they would even though I only received one issue of it.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:47 pmI temped there for a while this year, they are behind on bills and they owe money to so many people, the office was a mess and they were very unorganized, they didn’t even know I was coming but they requested someone to work!
August 7th, 2007 at 5:11 pmI also was a subscriber and getting no calls, we all know mags go out of biz all the time but they could at least update their site to show that’s what happened. I bet they’re still taking subscriptions, I’ve heard bad things about that Ryan guy.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:44 amThis might be a clue…Maybe they’re about to launch a new title - Pet Fashion Week sent out postcards with a sponsor named “The Dog Magazine.” Can’t find ANY info on it, but the logo looks VERY similar to “The New York Dog Magazine.” Checked Pet Fashion Week’s website and there’s no mention of “The Dog Magazine.” Maybe they’re planning to debut it at that event???
August 8th, 2007 at 9:18 amHey I haven’t gotten my magazines either,nor have I seen them at Borders.
Maybe they went bankrupt
August 9th, 2007 at 8:27 ami used to pick this up at the store sometimes if someone on the cover was someone i liked but i never saw it on a consistent basis either.
August 9th, 2007 at 1:56 pmYes, the Dog was to be a combination of the two but alas, the company, drowing in debt and oweing the staff over $50,000 in combined back wages is gone. The CEO, John Ryan is evidently in hiding and ducking every creditor, every former staff member and anyone else who wants a “bite” out of his you know what! If you want you money back and you used your credit card, call the credit card company and demand a refund based on fraud. The last issue published was April I believe. This guy pulled the same crap in Ireland and left oweing staff their pay while feeding everybody the story that he’s got some “mystery investor” that never materializes!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:26 amMichael O’Doherty, of Ireland, his partner is the publisher of V.I. P. magazine in Dublin, at least, that’s what he says. Of course, “what a tangled web we weave!” Hilary left the company months ago due to his behavior and broken employment contract to her. He is a horrible business man with absoluely no conscience at all. Two former staff member were evicted from their homes because he didn’t pay them, one is facing bankruptcy, one with medical bills he never paid ( because he never got health insurance as promised), and others dealing with the IRS because he didn’t pay the employee taxes, SS, Medicare etc. All monies were intermingled, personal and corporate account was one in the same. When asked for back pay for neccessities like housing, medicine, food, by his employees, his comments were that he had to pay HIS rent and HE had to live! What a scum bag! Here’s here on a VISA!
As an x staffer, yes the New York Dog and the Hollywood Dog are gone. Ryan couldn’t pay his staff or his other mountain of devt to vendors, printers, photographers or contributing editors. The Dog was to be a combination of the two beautiful magazines but because of the gross mismanagement of Gatsby, the whole thing has gone bust!
August 14th, 2007 at 9:02 amI think you’re all being a bit harsh - and there seem to be a lot of disgruntled ex-employees bitching here. Publishing is a notoriously tough business - and highly risky. There were loads of small pet stores that advertised and then never paid their bills. The recent pet food recall meant that most national pet food companies pulled their advertising which was the straw that broke the camel’s back. John didn’t “pull” anything funny in Ireland - he’s launched a number of publications over the years. Some like VIP did OK, others like GI and Stars on Sunday were ahead of their time and didn’t work out. Condé Nast, Hachette and Time Inc are all closing magazines at the moment - the whole industry is going through a dreadful time. You think Ryan is enjoying this? It’s a major disappointment for him. But it’s business and sadly it’s a tough business. It happens - sadly. I worked in publishing for years and I’ve seen it happen time and time again. Janice the sales rep never even met him or came to NYC so I don’t know what she’s making all these libelous comments for. What do you want him to do? Take the Chinese option? There are worse things that happen - give the guy a break. He’s done what he could.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:47 pmSusan, so that you have your facts straight. All statements made by me regarding John and the business are fully documented and in my possession so they are not libelous, they are fact. And yes, I did meet John. No I didn’t come to NY but I have met John, in San Diego California to be exact. NO, advertisers did not pull their advertising and NO, the money John is claiming was never paid by advertisers was never authorized by insertion order or contract. As I am not the only x staffer to be commenting, you really should not be believing that YOU are making first hand knowledge statements when you really have NO real knowledge of any of the facts. I as well have worked in publishing for years and in the pet industry so the attrition rate of new businesses is about 20% as with any other niche market. It appears that your comments are either from information you are getting from John himself or from some fantasy you have in your own mind about John’s temper, business acumen, or,must I say it, his own web of deceit.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:09 pmHere’s an idea for Susan Towers….if you believe in John so much, then why don’t you invest a $100K to $200K or so. Then he can pay all the people he owes, continue just the way he’s always done and see how far he gets and how much he’s got left to relaunch Gatsby’s magazines?
August 16th, 2007 at 12:14 pmSusan,
You have no clue what’s going on. I’m not disgruntled because I’m not owed money, but I know what the truth is. The way you’re defending him, one would think that you two shared a romp in the hay. If that IS the case then don’t get TOO attached to him sweetie, because he damn sure can’t afford a ring.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pmI would invest if I had the money but sadly I don’t and with all this public airing of the sorry details, I think it would be hard to persuade investors. @ Ms. Harris - too ridiculous to comment on such an allegation.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pmwell, so much for John’s biggest defender!
August 18th, 2007 at 12:48 pmJohn’s been looking for investors since, let me see, April? I believe, or at least that’s what he said. Many have allegedly looked but nobody bought! There’s a reason for that! DUH????
Thank you, Nancy for the advice about contacting the credit card company. I paid for an international subscription back in February 2007 and sent many emails, faxes and called many times (after midnight from Australia!) but could never get an answer. No one responded to my emails or faxes, I left phone messages (when the answering machine wasn’t full!) which were ignored. American Express refunded my subscription in full - only last week. They were very helpful, unlike the Gatsby idiots.
So, thank you Nancy - much appreciated!
September 12th, 2007 at 4:49 amI bought a subscription back in January of 2007 and called several times to see when my magazines would be mailed. I was told several times that it would start in a couple months. Well, a year later NOTHING! I contacted my credit card company and they said they couldn’t do anything cause it needs to be within 30 days. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to go about getting my money back? This whole situation sucks. I have never recieved a call or a letter stating the magazine is stopping. Please HELP me!
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 pmOff topic, sorry….but does anyone have a copy of TheHollywoodDog with Jennifer Love Hewitt they wouldn’t mind selling?
Thanks!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:23 pmYou might want to try eBay - they have magazines at times and I’ve actually seen this issue there before.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:38 am