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Doggie Adoption Takes DeGeneres to Ellen Back
Life's a bitch for Ellen DeGeneres. According to TMZ, when the talk show host and her girlfriend Portia de Rossi adopted a Brussels griffon mix named Iggy from Mutts and Moms, they thought everything would be hunky-dory. It wasn't — the pooch didn't mix with their cats. So they let DeGeneres' hairdresser have the mutt for her two kids. Again, they thought everything would be hunky-dory. It wasn't. M&Ms informed them that DeGeneres had violated the terms of their agreement by giving away the dog without informing them. Furthermore, a rep for the agency told the AP that DeGeneres was "trying to tell a story to make herself look good." He added, "She got rid of the dog not because it didn't get along with the cats. She didn't like the dog."
Y'know, if it were a Britney or a Paris who was playing round robin with an animal, I'd say, "By all means, move in and take action — now!" But Ellen and Portia... uh, I think their judgment can probably be trusted. — Ben Katner
POLL: Whose side are you on in this squabble? Vote here.
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Oct 17, 2007 9:27 AM
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Again, I have to agree with you, Ben. The Mutts and Moms place says there is a policy that small dogs don't go to homes with children under 14, which is, in my life-long pet-owning opinion, an idiotic policy. First of all, it depends on the particular kids, because some people shouldn't have pets when they're 45, while other can be trusted in kindergarten. Second, these girls are 11 and 12, which is certainly old enough to be good pet owners.
Ellen and Portia have a great track record with their pets and their judgment is probably very sound. The Mutts and Moms people are being arbitrary and stubborn. While I can't condone the threats they've been getting, I do think people should look elsewhere for their pets and pet supplies.
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Oct 17, 2007 9:48 AM
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What a bizarre story! So, uhm, if this group is called Mutts and Moms, which Moms are they referring to?
That is the most ridiculous policy I've ever heard. I grew up with dogs and we had small dogs and we had big dogs. It doesn't really matter what size the dog is. What matters is how the family treats its pets. I agree, Katcon - there are 45 yo that don't need to own a goldfish, much less a dog.
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Oct 17, 2007 10:06 AM
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The policy might be ridiculous, but it is their right to have such a policy (which Ellen did agree to by signing it). And that crying jag on her show was a bit of an over-the-top reaction.
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Oct 17, 2007 10:09 AM
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So, Mutts & Moms snatches a happy puppy from a safe home b/c Ellen signed a policy she probably wasn't aware of... but it took MONTHS and TONS of chances before someone stepped in and took Britney's kids away...
Man, we are f'ed up in this country.
I'm on Ellen's side... give back the puppy!
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Oct 17, 2007 10:37 AM
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It is policy. It doesn't matter if its stupid or right. It was signed. The rescue agency has every right to take the dog back.
Giving a puppy away because its rambunctious... way to go Ellen. Thats one of the reasons millions of dogs end up in shelters.
Ellen's hysterics were ridiculous.
She just lost a big fan.
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Oct 17, 2007 10:56 AM
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Mutts and Moms aught to be ASHAMED of themselves. I hope no one adopts anything from them ever again.
I have no problem with Ellen showing that she's human. I think that's a much more healthy message in the entertainment business than the norm of plastic smiles and airbrushed bodies.
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Oct 17, 2007 11:14 AM
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Nice... so you don't want any dogs to find loving homes. This is the reason Ellen's on air plea was the wrong thing to do.
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Oct 17, 2007 11:30 AM
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Ellen's hysterics ridiculous? Whatever. She is one of the only on air personalities that I have seen control her emotions at all times. These were not exactly crocodile tears.
And yes, a policy is a policy. Ellen spent thousands of dollars trying to train this puppy, and it was still a bad situation for pets she already had. So, she gave it to a very loving family. You are right. Big crime there!
This agency could easily get out of this while still saving face. All they would need to do is announce that while they are not adopting this pet or any other back to Ellen because she broke their policy, they will adopt it to the hairdresser and her family because they meet their adoption criteria. I am sure this backlash has had some affect on their current adoption situation, so they could use that as a PR excuse. That way, they are not letting Ellen get away with anything (maybe they could also demand a large donation from Ellen for breaking the rules,) the little girl gets her dog, and the agency comes out smelling like a rose.
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Oct 17, 2007 11:43 AM
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I agree with Skadoodle.
I volunteer with a rescue group. Rescue groups are usually willing to make exceptions when the home is right for the animal, even if their general policy is not to adopt small dogs to homes with small children. Obviously Mutts and Moms did not feel Ellen's hairdresser's home was the right home for Iggy. That's not to say they are bad pet owners, but their home just not be the right match for this particular dog.
Ellen's heart was in the right place by adopting a rescue group, but she is not necessarily qualified to match animals to homes. Leave that up to the experienced people (who by the way, are unpaid volunteers) who have the knowledge.
Mutts and Moms may look like the bad guy here, but they aren't. They approved Ellen's home for Iggy, not the hairdresser's. Yes, it's sad for the two children, but blame their parents. If they had gone through the proper channels and applied for the dog themselves, the children would not be heartbroken.
Ellen signed a contract. Who signs something they haven't read? We're not talking about a 10-page contract here - it was probably 1-2 pages. I'd also bet that Mutts and Moms volunteers verbally told Ellen that if for any reason she couldn't keep Iggy, that she was required to give him back to their organization.
This is a case of a celebrity trying to circumvent the law and use her power to garner sympathy. Mutts and Moms did things by the book - Ellen didn't.
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Oct 17, 2007 11:51 AM
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RescueAShelterPet - M&M's only stance is that the hairdresser's family didn't qualify b/c M&M's policy is that they do not allow families with children under 14 to adopt small dogs.
So, you agree that a shelter is a better place for a puppy than an actual home? It's an idiotic policy.
And since you're on their side... do you happen to know what happens to their adoptable pets who do NOT get adopted?
Do they go to a 'lovely farm' where they can roam free and frolick and play? Somehow, I doubt it.
Don't you think there was a better way to handle it? It's not like Ellen lied when they called asking about Iggy. Clearly that shows she was unaware of their policy.
And to those complaining about reading policies... I doubt many of you read EVERY SINGLE WORD on everything you sign either
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Oct 17, 2007 12:09 PM
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This is idiotic. Give the dog back to the hairdressers family.
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Oct 17, 2007 1:24 PM
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Ditto to everything Daesey said.
Yes, it's sad for the two children, but blame their parents. If they had gone through the proper channels and applied for the dog themselves, the children would not be heartbroken.
How on earth could it be the parent's fault? They were just offered a pet to adopt from someone that they knew to be a trustworthy source. How could they possibly have known that there was a contract and a clause like that? Pet adoptions between friends and acquaintances happen every day. My friend just adopted a dog from another one of my friends a couple of months ago. Do you think he actually asked or would have ever thought of asking if there was a "puppy clause" he needed to be aware of?
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Oct 17, 2007 1:32 PM
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SHAME on M&M!!!!!! The woman that runs the so called rescue should be ashamed of her behavior! She is just looking to gain her 15 minutes of fame! Ellen & Portia were, in my opinion, trying to do the right thing by this dog! It isn't like these kids that got the dog were babies for crying out loud! They are 11 & 12!!!! This woman is just a hateful vindictive person and apparently is more interested in getting recognition than doing what is right for the animals she is supposedly rescuing!
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Oct 17, 2007 2:17 PM
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AMEN Daesey! What ignorant remarks from both skadoodle & Reskue!!!! I say good for you Ellen!!!!!
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Oct 17, 2007 2:21 PM
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