Ellen Sobs For The Return Of Confiscated Pet

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres broke down while taping her show yesterday, in an episode that airs today, over a dog named Iggy that she rescued from a shelter in September. After she spent thousands to get Iggy neutered and to try and train him to get along with her cats, it wasn't working. Meanwhile, Ellen's hairdresser has two daughters and looking for a puppy. Ellen gave them Iggy, got daily reports of how the girls loved and had bonded to Iggy, and she thought she'd done a good thing by finding the dog a loving home.

But the rescue shelter claims Ellen violated a deal by giving the animal away, and they took Iggy from the kids. "I guess I signed a piece of paper that says if I can't keep Iggy, it goes back to the rescue organization, which is not someone's home, which is not a family," Ellen told the audience.

When the shelter called Ellen to check on Iggy, she was honest and told them she'd found the dog a new home. The shelter took Iggy from the hairdresser's home.

Here is Ellen sobbing on her show for the shelter to return the dog to the kids:

From NBC 10/16

Comments

[shengirl]

I agree, most animal rescue groups have so many they need to find homes for, they would be only too happy to have a good and loving home for one of their pets. How hard would it have been to check out this home and let the dog stay? And I too was wondering what happened to Britney's Chihuahua, since she now seems to be carrying a poor little bewildered Yorkie with her everywhere she goes. Has any animal welfare agency looked into this?

[lulu]

Obviously, some of you have not had a dog. A living, breathing being that only requires food, water and shelter and will return that requirement with love, comfort and protection. It would break my heart if any one of my three were taken away and I had no idea of their future. I don't think that breaking down on camera was the right emotion to use - I think anger would have served a better purpose. I dare someone to try and take one of my dogs. My daughter adopted a black lab through a rescue program and when she moved where she was not allowed to have pets, the dog stayed at our home. We contacted the rescue people and they were happy that the dog had a good home with loving owners. Too bad Moms and Mutts couldn't have done the same.

[brooklyncitizen]

Wow....

What breaks MY heart is knowing that we are killing innocent Iraquis every day while stealing their resources...all under the pretext of Democracy.

How do yoiu think the dogs are doing in Iraq? Maybe you can look into that.

[LCSANITY]

Animals have rights too! They just want to be loved and sheltered. To take Iggy from 2 loving children that are sobbing because there's an obvious bond there, is Heartless!
They should have just had the new family sign the damn documents and left the poor confused dog alone! Tramatizing the dog and children and calling the police in, is uncalled for. Who's looking for publicity here, not Ellen.
Just supervise this family like you did the original owners. Then, if said, so it be.

Moms and Mutts look at your self now! To ashamed of what you did, you closed your website so not to deal with the flack! Take the dogs and licence away from them. Sounds like the almighty dollar talking to me!!!
Pubicity seekers NOW WHO HAS THERE TAIL BETWEEN THERE LEGS! Hard to swallow is it.

Ellen, "YOU GO DAWG"! Humanitarian Award to YOU! You don't need no emmy, you have the heart of a whole Nation in your hands.

Moms and mutts, you call yourself MOMS, please.
Any human with a shred of deciency would put the animals and people first and find a way to keep this puppy in it rightful home. Animal activist stand for your morals and stop this Obserd act by a shelter that can't make any effort to do the right thing! People and Pets over Paper! Small issues blown apart by headstrong socialist, give it up.
Boycott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We know where you are.

[WilliamWallace]

I can't BELIEVE that this stuff is news.

[CammyV]

It's in the 'entertainment' section...aren't you entertained? Hard news can be found elsewhere. It's news when a celebrity has a total meltdown being taped with a live audience.

[balleryna2]

Okay, I have a very serious problem with what's going on in Ellen's head. WTF happened to this once-bright, articulate, focused and amazing woman????

I tuned in to her show once - my first time - a couple of months ago - and she's propped up on a hospital bed. I learn later on that this was a stunt (??). On that same show, she had Lindsay Lohan on and PRAISED her on being such an honest, decent person and - emphasized - that she had her on as a guest because she is someone that she truly loves as a person.

I literally wanted to throw up in my mouth.

Ellen.... What's going on ????!!!

[ClaudiaJean]

Why would you presume she is no longer bright, articulate, focused and amazing?
I'd highly question the unnamed source from which you "learned" this was stunt...
The woman was in a hospital bed because she hurt her back and doctor's orders was to try and stay in bed. Rather than cancel a week's worth of shows, she incorporated her uncomfortable circumstances into the show.
And you don't personally know Lindsay Lohan, do you? So why would you presume that Ellen wasn't speaking her own opinions? What would you have her do on her show - berate the girl? Not have her on at all and boycott her because her social/personal life was/is a mess? What is it that you want?
Now Ellen's not all there because she praised someone who wasn't praiseworthy according to you?
Them are some crazy high and arbitrary standard you're setting the woman up to meet for you sugarplum!

[Melissa]

Change the channel if you don't like her. I think she is still a bright, articulate amazing woman. I hope she is able to get this situation straightened out.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

Better that you throw up in Ellen's mouth.

[CammyV]

It's a sad thing, and I can see both sides. She signed a contract without reading it...her bad. They ripped a puppy away from 2 children, also bad. I think Ellen's reaction was out of proportion to the situation, though. I've never seen such an emotional break in public like that, and I didn't see the show so I've only viewed the begining so I don't know how she could have gotten it together to finish the show after her meltdown. I feel badly for all involved. Kids are resilient though, she can get them another puppy and they'll be fine.
Boo on Mom and Mutts though for being such hardasses. They may have sealed their fate and lost a lot of support.

[Prolix247]

I saw a replay of Ellen and I have to say she was acting, although pretty badly.

In the report Ellen stated that she was going to pressure Moms and Mutts via her show until they gave in and gave the dog to the second family.

It also went on to say that Ellen gave the dog away because it did not get along with her cat! Didn't Ellen think about that BEFORE she adopted the dog? How many dogs get along with cats?

I am sure Ellen was told that she could not give the dog away by this organization as I have rescued two animals from two different organizations and I was told both times.

If I were Moms and Mutts I would slap Ellen with a cease and desist order to shut her up. Ellen signed a contract and made the mistake not Moms and Mutts. If this second family wants the dog let them adopt it through the proper measures.

[CammyV]

I agree, I had a lengthy interview over the phone and then again in person before I was approved for a dog. That's done to be certain that the new owners are committed to keeping the animal, and not to have them return it into the system. I understand them wanting to protect the puppy, and I guess they felt if they made an exception for a celebrity, it would set a precedent. I think Ellen might have kept the puppy a bit longer to let that cats adapt, sometimes that's what it takes, unless the puppy was a danger to the cats, which doesn't seem plausible.

[xrmychick]

First of all what "report" did you read? Second, I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and they all get along great. As a matter of fact, my cat Jack and my Boston Terrier Ferris actually sleep in the same bed together. And my cat Kevin and my Rat Terrier mix Skeeter tear the house up playing, so saying dogs & cats don't get along is a totaly asinine statement. Third, I got a dog for my sister from the Boston Terrier rescue in my state and was completely honest about the fact that I was going to drive the dog 700 miles to another state to give it to her. I neither had to sign a contract nor pay a crazy-ass amount of money... just $150. I don't know what rescue organizations the rest of you folks have gone through, but it sounds like you've been getting ripped off and/or hosed by control freaks.

[TimetoIMPEACH]

Mutts and Moms should be shut down as a rescue organization and the individuals in charge prohibited from entering into pet rescue at any time in the future in the state of California.

These are obviously individuals who have become more impressed by their own power than concerned with the welfare of the animals they purport to protect. Their age limitations are specious and arbitrary: If they were truly interested in the age-related maturity of potential adoptees they would not have specific age requirements, but rather do face-to-face interviews and interactive observation. My children have been excellent with all sizes and types of dogs, cats and pocket pets since they were old enough to walk. At the same time, I know teenagers as old as 18 and 19 who are incapable of proper interaction with a pet.

If these were LEGITIMATE rescue people they would be happy at the prospect of a good home, well known to and prescreened by someone who loves and cares about the animal. If they were truly CONCERNED and not just CONTROL-OBSESSED, they would have taken the information about the family and done home observation of the family interacting with the dog.

Shame on them!

Please, California, shut them down. They are not pet rescuers, they are control fanatics.

[Lucille]

I hear what your saying and your no doubt correct. However, this incident is another reason why Black folks like me believe that White America has their priorities all wrong. Ellen is entitled to her feelings, yet Michael Vick's life was destroyed by fanatics just like these who put dogs above Black people, I as believe the reaction to Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal was purely racist.

Yes I know the dog's didn't deserve to be tortured, but to destroy Michael Vick's life over a practice that White people started and enjoyed for centuries with nary one (as rich as Vick) being strung up like he has been is obscene.

[cindyw]

Vick commited a crime. Ellen did not. She's long been an activist for animals, and she unknowingly broke one of the rules of the rescue group. To compare her to Michael Vick is just absurd. I agree with you that dog fighting has been going on for a long time, and anyone who participates should be prosecuted, but law enforcement often looks the other way for the good old boys. The fact that Vick was prosecuted while others weren't isn't fair, but it doesn't make his crime any less gruesome.

[vabear61]

Sorry- the only connection between the Ellen dog story and the Michael Vick story is that many Americans have concern for the welfare of animals that require our guardianship. It has nothing to do with race, so stop the baiting.

If Ellen was found to have been brutally murdering dogs and got off scot free, then you might have a point.

[pangardenguru]

I agree, they should be shut down immediately. they have no business doing what they are doing. Ellen is a hero to me and many other people. what a truly decent person she is.

[Boobaloo]

Dejack .. they're in a rage about this but,they're okay with 650 000 dead Iraqis. People like that are the reason our corrupt governmnt has a blank check to spread death and destruction.

[Boobaloo]

There are over 500 000 children in Foster Care in Amerca and everyone is up in arms about a mutt adoption gone awry.

Holy crap.

[StillAmused]

The reason so many people are on DeGeneres' case is because, drowned in disingenuous, pandering, phony and lying politicians in the news cycle, they can no longer recognize a normal human being exhibiting unscripted feelings.

[StillAmused]

... and HuffPo's proprietary "reload" button is getting R-E-A-L-L-Y annoying, coding the URL so you can't use your own refresh/reload button.

What's next? Personal counselors and training wheels?

[alsm9]

Are you so sure that was unscripted? EG is a trained actress. I'm sure she knows what to do to push emotional buttons.

[ClaudiaJean]

She's a comedian.
Limited acting ability.
And if this was acting, it was overacting.
This doesn't come off as fake.

[madambomb]

I'm a little late posting here, but just because Ellen is a "SuperStar!!!" doesn't mean she can break the rules for adoption. The rules are set up so that the people that are saving these animals know that they are placed into a good home, are not sold after adoption or mistreated in any way. It's the same with a child, so why should an organization that works tirelessly to save animals be held up for such scrutiny.

Why should Ellen be given special treatment? It's strange. If she was having problems with the dog (probably because some assistant was dealing with it and not her or her girlfriend) then she should have called the agency and asked if they could review the hairdresser's house and family to see if it would be a good fit.

Oftentimes these animals have already been bounced around several times and that leads to behavioral issues. Bouncing it around on your own, without guidance is a serious risk not only for the animal but for all humans involved.

Screw Ellen and her little weepy ways. As far as I can see she is acting seriously entitled and self-centered. Typical for a celebrity that is so far removed from the normal world.

Get over it Ellen, you shouldn't adopt dogs that don't fit into your family anyway.

[TruEngineHearing]

When people start saying, "you shouldn't... or you should..." I escort them out of my office.

Listen up pilgrim, the story is over here and your dickin' around over there. This story is about the obvious and how far from it we can get.

I see Ellen using everything in her power - celebrity, money, anger - to get the job done, and the job is getting the pet saved and with the family that wants it. I think Ellen's one fine stand-up woman.

You, not so much.

[Economike]

Does the public really need to know this much about her personal life?

[TimetoIMPEACH]

This has nothing to do with Ellen, per se, other than that she has the forum to expose Mutts and Moms for the hypocritical-controlfreaks-posing-as-DoGooders that they are.

Mutts and Moms should be shut down as a rescue organization and the individuals in charge prohibited from entering into pet rescue at any time in the future in the state of California.

These are obviously individuals who have become more impressed by their own power than concerned with the welfare of the animals they purport to protect. Their age limitations are specious and arbitrary: If they were truly interested in the age-related maturity of potential adoptees they would not have specific age requirements, but rather do face-to-face interviews and interactive observation. My children have been excellent with all sizes and types of dogs, cats and pocket pets since they were old enough to walk. At the same time, I know teenagers as old as 18 and 19 who are incapable of proper interaction with a pet.

If these were LEGITIMATE rescue people they would be happy at the prospect of a good home, well known to and prescreened by someone who loves and cares about the animal. If they were truly CONCERNED and not just CONTROL-OBSESSED, they would have taken the information about the family and done home observation of the family interacting with the dog.

Shame on them!

Please, California, shut them down. They are not pet rescuers, they are control fanatics.

[juliette23]

I hope this opens the story of how celebrities discard their pets on a regular basis. Where are the chihuahuas, Paris? Madonna?

[Horus]

Ellen is a really cool and really nice lady. I'm sure the family that she gave the dog to is the same way. I understand there is a contract but they should use common sense and refer back to their mission statement.

[wheelskeepturning]

This is a common practice with shelters. However, I think for them to go to the home and take the pet is ridiculous. They should have been able to make a paper transfer and let the new family have the pet. Come on, Ellen recommended them, she wouldn't give a puppy to a bad home.

[kulshan]

go ahead and come to my House and try and take my pet.

I dare ya.

That would be one disappointed Animal Control officer I promise you.

lmao@the idea of some one coming to my HOME to TAKE anything from me. Its hilarious. Stand up for youreselves pppl.

Cajones come in hand-y sometimes.

[pangardenguru]

anyone that attempted to take any of my pets would be killed, period.

[shengirl]

The shelter claims it never puts small dogs in homes with children under 14 [these two girls were 11 and 12], "for the safety of the dog". What baloney! I was 10 when I saved up my allowance and got my first dog, a small dachshund. She slept in bed with me and was my best friend. You can have loving and responsible 10 year olds and 17 year olds who are monsters. These 2 ladies seem to have other issues, making a comment about how a "big star" like Ellen is not going to "bully them". But come on, threats to kill them or burn their place down? Sure, kill a bunch of innocent dogs, maybe even the one in question, in a fire, that makes a lot of sense. Why must people be such morons?

[kulshan]

I guess that means if youre under 12 or in a family with children under 12 you shouldnt have a puppy??

most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

right up there with spaying my dog the 2ND time she is caught by animal control.

thats right. the 2nd time. not 3rd or 4th or when it is designated a "nuisance" animal.

I asked the "humane" society what they do the 3rd time?? cut a leg off?? remove an ear?

or maybe they will just kill my dog?
Now mind you they are threatening to spay my dog which cost 2300dollars and is pretty "rare" breed of dog.
For them to do that would deny me 2 litters of AT LEAST 5 dogs@2000dollars a piece.

[vabear61]

This is a special rescue society. It only adopts out to people with lots of money that can buy things at the doggie boutique they also own. Surely, a hairdresser's salary cannot give the pup diamond studded collars it will need to survive. Get those little girls a hamster at walmart.

[booker52]

I think the shelter owner has her own issues, the least of which seems to be control and now that she has national media attention, she won't step out of the limelight!!!

[nihilon x]

I don't watch the show that often, but I've seen it enough to know that Ellen seems to be a very genuine and good-hearted person who enjoys making others happy -- which is probably why she chose to be a comedian.

I hope all of this works out well for everyone concerned, including Ellen, the dog, and the shelter.