Up-dated Thoughts About the Ellen Degeneres Issue And The Dog Iggy
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
October 18, 2007 9:36pm CST
This is just some random thoughts here about the whole mess about the dog, Iggy that talk show host Ellen DeGeneres had adopted from the Mutts and Moms dog shelter in Pasadena, CA.
I got in contact with one of my pet rescuer friends as I wanted to get her input on what she thought about the whole thing and here is her reply to me word for word--it's not a lengthy reply...but
(quote)"....Ellen did violate the contract but the rescue lady is an a$$s and has done more to ruin private rescue than anyone in a long time.."Now yes, on a technical basis Ellen DeGeneres did violate the contract agreement when she adopted "Iggy" on September 20. In the contract, among other things it stated that if the owner wasn't able to keep the dog, then it had to be returned to the shelter. Also in the contract was the stipulation that no dog could be adopted to a family who had children under the age of 14.
I think how Ms. DeGeneres viewed it, was that rather than take the dog back to the shelter were it would be crammed into a cage again, she knew of a family, that already had one dog, were responsible and had children...but under the age of 14...which I find ridiculous...My mother adopted our very first cat when I was only five, and the children of this family that Ms. DeGeneres gave the dog too, were ages 12 and 11...these aren't exactly "babies"Also from what I understand part of the "screening" process was that the owner had to go to a person's home to see if the adopted pet would be at a suitable home...she didn't with Ellen DeGeneres....so why all of a sudden is the family considered "unsuitable"? I don't think Ellen would have handed the dog to any one at random. Also, according to what I've heard from a video...the family that Ellen gave the dog to DID want to apply formally to adopt the dog, but was ignored.
Here an interview with Ruby, the 12 year old girl who discusses how they confiscated the dog--in it Ellen also explains that she donated $600 for Iggy, and that the dog was to be soon euthnaized since no home had been found for it.--That's on top of the $3,000 Ms. DeGeneres paid for getting it neutered/shots, and training for it--also from what I understand, the owner of Mutts and Moms can to the home under false pretenses...she claimed to just want to do a "check"...instead cops were called, and Animal Care and Control--There are other related videos on the same page..
Please watch this videos...
http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/18/ellen-portia-rush-to-home-where-iggy-was-taken/
Anyway...as my pet rescuer friend thinks...this could be a real backlash against all shelters now..people may just stop adopting pets now, as they may be afraid to adopt from a shelter like Mutts & Moms...I think the woman in charge of Mutts & Moms was off the deep end a bit here.
I even checked out the forums that are on Petfinder.com...bottom line..they think the Mutts & Moms owner is nuts
What do you think?
8 people like this
19 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I have to agree. The owner of Mutts and Moms has gone off the deep end. She's thinking with her own vindictive heart instead with a sensible mind and therefore needs to be taken out of this line of work. She's not going to bend no matter how much "hate" mail she recieves which tells me what kind of person she really is. Not saying "hate" mail is the right way to go but in support of the family that wants the dog, she should bend a little bit.
If anybody has a sensible mind, they should realize it's not the shelters fault that there's one bad apple amoung them because it's like that no matter where you go. I pray that everyone comes to an understanding that if we don't adopt from the shelters then we're putting these little guys and gals at risk of being put down and all over something they had nothing to do with. It's so sad. It really is. All we can do now is pass the word on.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I just feel so sorry for the dog...he's in this tug of war thing, and can't understand why...I hope Ellen sues the woman's brains out!
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
20 Oct 07
Yeah I wish she could but don't think she'd be able to because of the contract she signed. It is a shame for the poor little dog doesn't understand what the heck is going on and why he's being put into so many homes. It's confusing to a little animal just as it would be to a child but an animal, there's no explaining why and people wonder why they get separation anxiety attacks or act out in some way. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE!!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I agree with your friend. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty but I didn't think about the backlash on shelters. I thought This shelter would have to close but the others would be okay.But now I agree that all shelters will have to work extra hard on p.r. to stay in business. What a shame. I think the othesr would have let the family keep the dog . they would have made sure the family had the skills to rear this puppy.And that is all that was needed to happen.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The problem too, was that the family DID want to formally adopt the dog after Ellen gave Iggy to them...but the shelter owner was just playing real hard ball--hope she gets sued like crazy
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I can't understand why any dog shelter would take the dog back to the shelter and possibly have to put the dog to sleep. There is no compassion here. If I were in Ellen's shoes, I would contact my attorney and find out all the legal aspects of this adoption process. As I understood the news earlier, the shelter actually owns the dog. So does this mean Ellen is borrowing the dog for a long housestay? Maybe Ellen would be required to pay rent for the dog which is suppose to be hers. That makes no sense to me at all.
The children were old enough to handle another dog. They aren't toddlers. Saw the interview with the older child earlier.
Our daughter adopted a dog and then had a child and then another child. Does this mean she has to return the dog because the kids are under 14?
I'm not questioning you, Pye, but the system. I totally agree with everything you and your pet rescurer friend said above.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I think Ellen already has contacted a lawyer...on her last show she mentioned that she wasn't going to mention about Iggy again, unless it was to tell people she got the dog back to the family...that usually indicates that a lawyer must have told her to clam up about discussing the case as lawyers will do that once a case begins...
I think a lot has to do with the fact that on the microchip that Iggy had it still only had the woman's name on it..so like in other words the woman does still own it..they were supposed to add Ellen's name on it, but didn't--something just not right here all the way around
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I couldnt hear what the little girl was saying but still seems to me like Ellen did the right thing giving the puppy to someone who already loved it.. Specaily when Ellen got it from just before they was to put it to sleep! I know she didnt follow the contrct but I see no need fo rthe police and all to be involved and that women is wrong to do what she did.
GIve the dog back to the family that loves him!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I really do hope this woman gives Iggy back to the family--if not I hope Ellen sues her
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
19 Oct 07
My honest opinion, pyewacket, is that it's all a bunch of hoopla. Ms. DeGeneres signed a contract that should have been legal and binding. It wasn't like she did not know the rules. As someone else suggested, she would have done better to just lie to the people when they phoned to check up on the dog. I don't have a lot of respect for "celebrities" who think the rules should be bent in their favor simply because they are who they are. I understand that it was hard for the family to deal with, but she should have come clean with the organization before she gave the dog away.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The woman who owned the shelter though broke "rules" too..when she went over to the family's home it was supposedly just to "inspect" the home...instead she yanked the dog away forcibly...with cops escort and Animal Care And Control...the family DID approach the woman to "formally" adopt Iggy, but the woman wasn't hearing it...she has a record of doing the same with others who have adopted dogs from her...Like what? Doesn't she want the dogs to be adopted in the first place?? Something is clearly a bit screwy with this woman
@Vieiragirl (109)
• United States
19 Oct 07
Firt of all I think it is crazy to be selling dogs and pretty much have a contract saying that the Muts and Mom is the owner of the dog and the person who purchase the dog is the care taker as long as they follow the rule.
Mind you that this isnt the first dog this company has taken away from the owners. I even saw an interview with a woman that went on vacation and had her friend dog sit for her when she had gotten back from vacation the dog was no longer in her home. The same lady who took iggy had tooken her dog. I think that is insane.
I think taking a dog away from a family is mean and heartless and goes against everything a dog stands for. There are so many abused dogs out there and we are now takiing dogs away from loving families that is sad. I think this company wants complete control and I think they will soon learn that this is extremely bad for business.
I doubt this will be resloved either and that is what is so pathetic about it little girls lost their dog and now it has been placed in a new home.
I guess if we learn anything from this read the fine print on a contract especially if it something that you will love.
I must say that I don't think Ellen should have gotten a dog if she didnt know how to take care of it or train it. I think it is sad that she decided to give it away.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I think the only reason Ellen gave the dog away to that family was she didn't like the idea of the dog being shoved back into a crate that it was kept in at the shelter....from what I heard the dog was to soon to be euthanized to make room for more dogs.
Yes, I've heard all kinds of stories about these women..also, did you know they were operating with a suspended license to begin with.???
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I agree with you. I think they handled things like a child would by having a temper tantrum. Granted yes she violated the contract and yes that was wrong. But what is also wrong is sending a dog back to a shelter to live in a cage. Ellen did what she felt was best for the dog and that was to give it to a loving family. Ellen had the dogs best intrests in mind when she broke the contract.
Your right this incident is going to make people think twice about adopting now. This whole incident has gotten out of hand and is making animal shelters look bad.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The woman of the shelter has a "history" of taking dogs back she's adopted out before --what kind of nutcase is she?
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
22 Oct 07
Well that is just a load of crap.
Pure and simple.
They'd rather kill the dog than to give it a great home just because the home has kids under 14!!!
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
6 Nov 07
That is insane! I was older but my sister got her first dog when she was like 2 or 3. And my cousins have had cats there since just about birth.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
It is a load of crap....And what is with the under 14 deal?? I had my first kitty when I was only five
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I agree the woman is off her rocker and shouldn't be running a rescue place. I didn't watch the video but I have read a few articles on it. What got me is in several of the news articles the agency or their lawyer states that they won't be pushed around by the Ellen Degeneres of the world and that the woman isn't above the law but then the lawyer goes on to say well if she'd contacted us before hand I'm sure my clients would have agreed with the adoption. Now isn't that saying they'd make special allowances? In this same article even the ASPCA sides with Ellen (Which floored me because they have similar contracts) but I think they know like you that this could really hurt the adoption process for many people.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303198,00.html
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The news is that this isn't the first time these women have snatched adopted dogs back from owners...making some kind of claim..and of course they don't refund the money...kind of shady isn't it??
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
19 Oct 07
Well she did violate the contact, but the Animal Rescue team could have taken the dog back and notify Ellen DeGeneres immediately, since they would have had their contact with her. On the other hand, she could have called the Animal Rescue when she said that she wanted it to give to that family. They would have sent someone over and see that the family would not hurt the dog and given the okay, and everything would have been fine.
So both parties were at fault and I get the feeling that she did not exactly trust Mutts & Moms because she did not want to tell them she gave the dog away until later.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The family DID apply to formally adopt the dog...and the woman came over under false pretenses to just check the home of the family, but instead forced the dog away from the family...I think this woman is wacky...she has a history of doing the same with other people...as if she doesn't want to adopt the dogs out
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
19 Oct 07
wait wait they are going to put the dog down??!! even though that family WANTS it, a public outcry has been made and THOUSANDS of dollars has been spent?!
i cannot believe that after all the "going to a good home" crap and pretense that the clause in the contract is FOR..that they are going to euthanize the dog ANYWAYS!!!
omg, now im even more pissed about it than i was before!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
No I don't think it means they'll put the dog down...unless the woman is nasty enough to do so...and she seems a bit looney to me to begin with
@krayzee (1160)
• Romania
19 Oct 07
From what I've been reading about it the hairdresser and the kids did apply for the dog however Iggy's already been given away to another family. I read this in many places on the 'net, I'm sure I can find some links if you want.
As for the effect this will have on pet shelters I do hope people will realize that this is only an exception and not the rule. I'm very sorry for the pets at Mutts & Moms though as they are probably the ones that's going to have a hard time about it as people will hesitate to deal with that particular agency.
I still hope it will all end up for the better and the dog will be given back to the girls.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
The woman supposedly had a history of taking back dogs she adopted out..like gee, doesn't she WANT to see them adopted??
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I watched that program where Ellen was so upset about Iggy. It's unbelievable that mutts and moms when so overboard on this. Cops and Animal Care? What the heck was that all about. The poor pup was being well taken care of and that's all that should have mattered.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
This whole thing was really badly handled by that woman....hope Ellen sues the daylights out of her
@brandy78 (159)
• Canada
26 Oct 07
That is insane.. i only caught the headline on this but never really heard what happened.. Its so frustrating to me with the amount of unwanted animals we have in this world someone would euthanize an animal who has a family waiting for him.. I realize the shelters have guidelines in place for a reason.. I worked for one.. but i think any self proffessed animal lover would take the option of a loving family home with kids who as you said are not babies, instead of putting the poor thing to sleep.. maybe she should spend her time on more serious issues like animal cruelty .. I am sure there are many abused animals she could get the cops in to remove instead of making a big stink over nothing.. wonders will never cease..
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
I just hope that somehow the owners of Mutts and Moms will change their minds and give the dog back to that family...a family that wanted the dog
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
26 Oct 07
In my opinion, the whole situation was blown wayyy out of proportion. The people that run the "mutts and moms" organization need to reevalute their rules and regulations, Ellen was doing the right thing by finding the dog a good home instead of sending him back to live in a cage again...I probably would've done the same thing.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
Yes, I would have done the same thing too...she did find the dog another good home...so what's the problem with these women of Mutts and Moms??..
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct 07
Well I totally disagreed to it all as far as I am concerned she found a loving owner for the Dog so why the big Kick up
I personally would say that the Woman who owns those Shelter should be closed down as she has no love and care for Animals or she would have never done that she would have left the Dog with the loving Family
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
I hope somehow charges are brought against that woman of mutts and moms for some kind of cruelty...cause snatching away the dog from that family who was willing to give Iggy a good home is cruel!
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Oct 07
I went to look at the video and a notice says..."The video you are trying to watch is temporarily unavailable. Check back soon.
Can anyone own one of these places like Moms & Mutts? It all sounds terribly screwy to me. Some stoopid but wealthy person could just make up some stoopid rules and change them or whatever on a whim.
It doesn't sound to me as tho they have the animals best interests at heart. Every case should be judged on it's merits and this place fell down on the job in the first place by allowing the dog to go to Ms Degeneres.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
This whole thing is screwy...those women was operating their Mutts and Moms with a suspended license...like duh?? They shouldn't have been doing their business in the first place, let alone adopt dogs out
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I think that people need to read contracts before they sign them.
I have 2 small dogs and young kids, my youngest are 5 and they've done well in my home. I could understand if the kids were as young as mine (they aren't always gentle) but those kids are old enough to take good care of a dog.
Our local shelters made sure they went on the news stating that they don't do that so hopefully it won't effect their adoptions. Of course not every one watches the news.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Oct 07
Who the heck really reads contracts though? In the past I've adopted pets at shelters and never read the fine print either...These women were operating their "business" with a suspended license..so they shouldn't have been adopting any pets out anyway
@Countrymom (371)
• United States
21 Oct 07
I think the shelter totally mishandled this to begin with! If Ellen couldn't keep the dog, but found a suitable home for the dog and the shelter was concerned they should have called the new owners and paid them a visit. Thus finding that the dogs new home was suitable they should have allowed the dog to remain imposing the same stipulations on the newer owners of Iggy. So now, they have to pay for Iggy's care and shelter and food and "re market" Iggy. Ignoring the pleas of Ellen, and the dog's other family (I saw the little girls plea on television) How heartless and cold this shelter seems! I was very very disappointed with their handling of the entire situation and would really consider sending in some animal rights folks to really look the shelter over and consider if they should remain in business. I mean lets be realistic here! We've gone from Bob Barker asking people to get their pets spayed or neutered to this?....! Lets get real folks! Animals need good homes and this dog had a wonderful home yet they just wrenched him from his loving family! I thin that its very very tragic that the shelter is getting away with such a travesty of justice.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Oct 07
Well, from what I've heard the Mutts and Moms were operating with a suspended license to begin with, so they had no right to adopt pets out in the first place...and I think I've read that the ASPCA and even PETA is on Ellen's side about this
