Ellen Degeneres & Pet Adoption*Update post #16*

[Logan]

You guys are as fair as I have seen all day today. Thank you for that! On one of my other groups, everyone is crying foul, saying the rescue did the wrong thing. How do they know?

Those of us involved in rescue know that there is a reason that they do vet reference checks, home visits, etc. And for the rescue to decide to waive those rules just because it is Ellen who is turning over the dog to a new owner, just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm living proof of how the system works. I fostered Ben (Golden Retriever) last year for a week. An approved family ended up adopting him. No one else in our rescue group ever saw him. He was turned in as a stray at our rescue's vet office and I picked him up after he had all of his shots and had been temperment tested. The family ended up with a change of life situation and couldn't keep him. They called me. I knew I wanted him, but I did go through proper channels to have them release him back to rescue and then I formally adopted him. It was the right thing to do, although those folks would have turned him over to me, no questions asked. They didn't remember that they needed to contact the rescue. They just knew I loved him and since we had kept in touch, they told me, first. Boy am I glad they did!!!

I feel horrible for the situation Ellen found herself in and I feel really badly for that family, too, and the dog. Hopefully all parties involved will use this opportunity to educate people about why rescue does what it does to find proper homes for the dogs they take in. And if the family that she gave the dog to will go through the proper adoption procedures, pass the home check and vet reference check, he can be right back with them. Something tells me that the rescue would not want all of this negative publicity and hopefully they are working in the best interest of the dog. I'm cautiously optimistic!

Logan

[lizbud]

I just posted in Dog General about this & to repeat, it's,

I try to watch her show everyday & I did see today's show where she
talked about it. I do hope the group reconsiders & finds this new family
to be responsible people who love the dog. Anyone who knows Ellen, knows
what a animal lover she is. I would think Ellen has enough smarts to know
a responsible pet lover when she sees one. Give the dog back, I say.

Only thing I would add is ,Ellen made the point that she did the wrong thing.
She was upset that the dog had to suffer for her mistake in not following
the adoption policy. She was doing the right thing in finding a good home
for the pup, but overlooked the policy papers. I hope something can be
worked out for all concerned.The family & their little girls did bond with the pup.

[Argranade]

I hope that family with those 2 girls get's the dog back!

How rude is that.

[CathyBogart]

I have to side with the rescue, though I think they should give the family the option of going through the rescue to get the dog back, IF they pass the rescues screening process.

[Ginger's Mom]

Hopefully all parties involved will use this opportunity to educate people about why rescue does what it does to find proper homes for the dogs they take in. And if the family that she gave the dog to will go through the proper adoption procedures, pass the home check and vet reference check, he can be right back with them. Something tells me that the rescue would not want all of this negative publicity and hopefully they are working in the best interest of the dog.

What a good thought! I hope you are right.

I hear everyone saying that the dog went to a shelter. The name Mutts and Moms doesn't sound like a shelter to me. I would have thought that it is a rescue agency, and they usually rely on foster homes for their dogs, not shelters.

I still have no idea what really happened, but the other thing that surprises me is that someone in Ellen Degeneres position would sign a legal agreement without being aware of what it said. I would just think you would be extra careful when you have so much you could lose. I got Ginger from a rescue group located about 4 hours from where I live. Their paperwork said that if I ever needed to rehome my dog that I was to place the dog back with them. I questioned the lady about that before I signed the paperwork. I asked her if that meant that if I found that I was unable to care for my dog but I had a relative or close friend that Ginger had bonded with, I would not be able to place my dog with that person? She said if I contacted them and informed them of the rehome and who she was going with they would probably approve the rehome fairly quickly. So I added that to the "other" section of the adoption agreement.

[jennielynn1970]

Has there been any word about the dog or the family it was taken away from?

It's unfortunate that it happened the way it did. These type of things really have negative effects on animals, but I'm sure the rescue was doing what it felt was best at the time. I hope so anyway.

[loveallfurryfriends]

I understand the reason for the rules. I do think that this family should be given the opportunity to adopt this poor pup. Ellen was honest about the whereabouts of the dog, and that should count for something. It seems like the rescue could have given the stylists' family the chance to apply for adoption. Those poor kids!!! I am sure the doggy is so confused!!!

[critter crazy]

Agency Wants to Keep DeGeneres' Dog
By BETH HARRIS
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES


Ellen DeGeneres' doggy drama intensified Tuesday when the agency that took the talk show host's adopted dog back said they were keeping it.

The dog adopted by DeGeneres and later given to her hairstylist's family in violation of an animal rescue agency's rules will not be going back to the family, a spokesman said, amid threats of violence against the agency.

DeGeneres made a tearful plea on her talk show that aired Tuesday for the owners of Mutts and Moms to give Iggy, a Brussels Griffon mix terrier, back to her hairstylist's family.

The dog was removed from the hairstylist's home Sunday. The owners of Mutts and Moms claimed that DeGeneres violated the adoption agreement by not informing them that she was giving the dog away.

Mutts and Moms owners Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun were in possession of the dog and will not be giving it back, attorney Keith A. Fink told The Associated Press.

"She (Marina) is not going to give them the dog," said Fink, who is not legally representing the owners but is authorized to speak on their behalf.

"She doesn't think this is the type of family that should have the dog. She is adamant that she is not going to be bullied around by the Ellen DeGenereses of the world ... They are using their power, position and wealth to try to get what it is they want."

DeGeneres' attorney, Kevin Yorn, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Fink said DeGeneres' partner, actress Portia de Rossi, signed the agreement. DeGeneres originally said on her show that she (DeGeneres) had signed it.

DeGeneres' publicist Kelly Bush confirmed De Rossi signed the agreement, although DeGeneres' name also was listed.

"She (Ellen) was wrong by not reading the agreement," Bush told the AP in a phone interview. "She thought she was doing a good thing. She's notorious for rescuing animals and finding them good homes. She found the dog a wonderful, wonderful home."

Fink asserted that DeGeneres and De Rossi breached the agreement.

"If you adopt a dog and you no longer want the dog, you can't unilaterally decide who you want to give the dog to," he said. "She's trying to tell a story to make herself look good."

As a result of the ensuing publicity, Fink said Batkis and Chekroun had received voice- and e-mail threats of death and arson, and their Paws Boutique store in Pasadena was besieged by media Tuesday, disrupting business. The women handle the volunteer, nonprofit Mutts and Moms rescue agency out of the store.

"It's very upsetting to hear that someone is getting those kind of calls," Bush said. "Ellen just wants the dog reunited with the family."

DeGeneres had said her hairdresser's daughters, ages 11 and 12, had bonded with Iggy and were heartbroken when the dog was taken away.

Fink said Moms and Mutts has a rule that families with children under 14 are not allowed to adopt small dogs.

"It's for the protection of the dog," he said.

DeGeneres said on her Tuesday show that she spent $3,000 having the dog neutered and trained to be with her cats, but Iggy did not mix well with the cats so she gave him away.

"She got rid of the dog not because it didn't get along with the cats," Fink said. "She didn't like the dog."

Not true, according to Bush.

"She loved the dog," the publicist said.

Four-month-old Iggy was trained by Zack Grey at his UrbanTales pet store in Los Angeles.

"Ellen and Portia followed the process every single day," he said. "It just didn't work. It had nothing to do with not loving the puppy."

[Ginger's Mom]

Oh, , I am sorry to hear some of the comments made by the rescue's attorney. They may have been better off to have said nothing. It makes it sound like they are more concerned with appearing to be "bullied by the Ellen Degenereses of the world." Most rescues say age 12, and even with an age of 14, these children are not too much younger and may have proven that they are responsible enough to co-exist with at small dog. And any comments by her as to why Ellen got rid of the dog are inappropriate.

I hope the dog finds a nice quiet home where the media cannot find him and he can be loved and spoiled.