Ellen's People Are Making Her On-Air Tears Look A Little Crocodiley

Ok, I LOVE Ellen Degeneres as much as the next person, and I'm sure she meant absolutely no harm by handing her dog off to her hairdresser's kids. But that doesn't matter, in this case. If Ellen signed something that said "you have to give the dog back if it doesn't work out", and she didn't, then Ellen plain and simply broke a contract. I'm actually proud of this breeder, because they must care about the well being of their pups. They probably do a very serious background check before letting anyone adopt their dogs. If people go handing off dogs they don't want to other people, then they have no way of being sure their dogs are going to good homes. So I say good for the breeder for standing up to Ellen! What's right is right! Doesn't matter how famous you are. And who knows -- the hairdresser's kids could be terrors -- seriously -- more people need to do background checks. The agency I volunteer for won't let a pup going outside of a 60 mile radius so they can come and check on them, and they do serious background checks.

Ellen is a bloated clebrity tick who thinks that rules, including the terms of her signed contract, are for "the little people".
Ellen's torrent of sobs is designed to goose interest in her lame TV show and intimidate the shelter people. She is an actress, after all.
No wonder Ellen was so smitten with Anne Heche. Two psychotic peas in a lunatic pod.

What's sad is that an agency that does a lot of good for abused and abandoned animals is getting a bad rap out of this. If people want to threaten someone, why not call Michael Vick and his crew? Don't waste your time threatening and harassing people who actually care about the animals that they are trying to place. I don't think Ellen was using this situation to gain attention for her show - she doesn't need it. I think she is truly upset about hurting those girl's feelings and upset that the dog had to go back to the shelter. I hope things can be worked out so that both parties are satisfied and I think it's a shame that it's gotten so blown out of proportion.

lil mo -- EXACTLY! I wrote to Ellen's show and said "shame on you". Seriously, Mutt's & Mom's is now off the web, because they are overwhelmed with hate mail because of Ellen Degeneres. This is not fair at all. Hopefully PETA comes out and scolds Ms. Degeneres about how important it is to follow the rules when it comes to the well being of animals and children. Better yet, write directly to her: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/dearellen/

Mutts & Moms called Page Six themselves. Now they can live with the consequences of that. Ok, Ellen broke a contract but its not like she dumped the dog on the side of the road and drove off. She gave it to someone she knows and trusts to give it a good home.
This is drama over nothing. Did Mutts and Moms say they found the hairdresser friend was abusing the dog? No. So why go crying to Page Six? Because Ellen is famous and they wanted publicity.

Ellen's television show is huge. It makes perfect sense that Mutt's & Mom's lawyers went BIG (by going to Page 6) to protect themselves and to tell their side of the story. If they didn't do that, what recourse would they have against someone as big and well-liked as Ellen? NONE. So good for them, I say. And no -- the children weren't abusing the dog, but that isn't really the point. Animal shelters have rules to protect dogs. Sign the contract -- follow the f-in rules. That simple.

I can't believe that this organization would go 'after' someone like Ellen, who actually has an animal's best interest at heart! Screw Mutt's Moms!!! Where were they during Michael Vick?? How many other Michael Vick's are out there??? Do they really have THAT much time and money to spare on 'tracking down' Ellen and her dangerous hairdresser crew?? That isn't where I would want to DONATE ANY money or time... they are SUITS looking for publicity and a lawsuit. F-them!

Contract or not, taking the dog back just defies common sense in this case. If the new home was safe and secure, and the dog is well taken care of, what is the big deal? Sounds like to me that Mutts & Moms just wanted another adoption fee out of the dogs.

Kids and dogs don't mix anyways. Kids are mean to dogs most of the time. I wouldn't
give a dog to a family with kids, sorry.

"Lesbo" doesn't mean "above contract laws".
Or maybe it does.
Rosie thinks so. So does

T-Bone, I hear what you're esaying but this is a storm in a teacup. If when Mutts and Moms went and checked out the hairdresser and her family and if they saw that the dog was safe and out of harms way, could they not have left it there? The likelihood is the dog was fine, or else it would have been mentioned in Page Six. They upset the kids, probably upset the dog and upset Ellen. It would have been the most practical solution to leave the dog there, thus avoiding the drama.

And ok, Ellen broke a contract, but it isn't the main issue here. They could have just fined her or something. I mean this is California, people seem to make up their own laws there!

I know Ellen D. personally and she is a great person. I too however do rescue work and this type of contract is pretty standard. The only thing is that most places like the Humane Society really don't care if you pass off a dog to a friend, well that's it, they don't care.

Whiny dyke.
They took my dog. WAAAAA. SOB SOB
Feel sorry for me! WAAAAAA
I'm one of the highest paid dykes around....feel sorry for me!!!!
I should get special treatment.

Her little performance is akin to the 20-something socialites who think they are ENTITLED to special treatment because they have a degree of celebrity.
She should be slapped and sold to some redneck to use as a sex toy for a month or two.

BTW.....it's just a dog. 1000's are killed every day....go get another mutt, give it to the little kiddies...give the kiddies some money to goto Disney Land. Feature the mutt on your dumb little show. Hug a couple of women. Everyone will be in tears...
Oh how sweet. retch!

I'm basically over this whole stupidity.
ellen signed a contract and violated its terms.
the family that she gave the dog to needs to go to the shelter and properly adopt the dog.
end of story.
case closed.
ellen was really stupid for making such a big deal out of this on TV.

Green cardigan you are a moron. She violated a contract in place to protect rescued dogs. Rules and regulations do not disappear Ellen felt she gave it to a "good" home- those were the rules stick by it.

I totally agree that this has gotten blown out of proportion, Green. But Ellen had everything to do with that. She went public. And since she is the famous person here, she should have known that this would happen.

Having said that, this is a perfect case of "there are two sides to every story". I work for a rescue group that would have done the same thing as Mutt's & Mom's, and not out of spite, but out of concern for the process and the well being of the dogs. Had Ellen followed the rules and brought the dog back to Mutt's & Mom's and said "we can't keep her, but I know of a great home for her". Something tells me they would have worked directly with this family and given the dog to them.

Whoaaa Jason -
While we're on the same side of the fence on this argument, Green Cardigan ain't no moron. She's my cyber pal ;)

Thanks T !

Jason, you lose credibility when you add an insult when you disagree with someone. Each time I read a post where the person makes a personal remark to the other poster, be it 'loser', 'moron' or whatever, I dismiss it. :)

If Ellen had given the dog back to Mutts and Moms that idiotic owner would have leaked the story "Heartless Ellen Degeneres returns tiny little puppy dog to the doggie shelter, how cruel of her"
Ellen did the right thing finding a good home for the dog and this miserable witch who owns the shelter is going on a power trip. Do you think she calls all her customers to check up on all her dogs or just the ones the famous people adopt. Please!!!

JJ - NO EXCUSES!!! Signed contracts are actually meaningful documents in a court of law. That contract is in place for a reason -- for the protection of the animal. Without a contract like that, Ellen could hand the dog over to some well-intentioned person, who could also hand the dog over to some other well-intentioned person who could hand the dog over to some abusive thug. CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED FOR A PURPOSE!

You know, I've dealt with Kelly Bush (Her Publicist) and this is exactly how she calls people up on the phone, being all nasty and threatening. If they were going to let the kids keep the dog, I'm sure they changed their minds after that BITCH called and threatened them like that.

Reports are now saying Mutts and Moms didn't make Ellen or Portia sign anything; they let their 'celebrity' sign for them. I don't see how taking a dog from a loving home and locking it back up in a cold, small cage is doing the animal any good.

Not true, Mutts. They signed a contract and gave a verbal contract.

PETA:
"At a time when so many people in Hollywood, like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, are making impetuous "pet" purchases, PETA commends Ellen for adopting a homeless animal from a shelter rather than buying a dog. Every animal purchased from a pet store is a virtual death sentence for an animal desperately waiting in a shelter for a home.

We know that Ellen was trying to do the right thing in finding the dog a new home. She just missed a step in neglecting to contact the agency first. We hope that if the new home she arranged turns out to be as good as she thought, the agency will allow the family to take the dog back. PETA does think that Mutts & Moms' policies of doing home checks and not allowing people to transfer animals to others are good rules that protect the animals..."

Ellen apologized for not remembering every wording in the contract she signed.She said that on air it was her mistake. Mutts & Mom sent a police car over to the hairdresser home and took Iggy in front of two crying children, and placed the poor dog into a cage. If Ms Batkis would have gone over to the Hairdresser home she would have seen the dog was in a loving home. Ellen begged the organization to please don't punish the dog or the two children for her mistake. Ms Batkis would not return phone calls and threatened to take her story to the media; and that is why Ellen went on air to plead with Ms Batkis to go and look at the home and allow Iggy to be adopted by the hairdresser & her two children. The two little girls are devastated. Ms Batkis comment was it is my dog and I will place it where I please; she has closed her heart to Iggy & these children. To the people who threatened violence on Mutts & MOM's you are no better than what they are doing to these two little girls.The ones hurt by this is Iggy & those two children; there was no need for this to get so out of hand if Mutts & Mom did not act in a cruel and heartless way...

Tara -

Ellen Degeneres had good intentions. On that, everyone agrees. But now that she has taken her PERSONAL plight public, the rescue group is not only getting death threats, but they've had to go off line due to hate-mail. What does this say about her fans??? Uneducated perhaps about true animal rescue? Do you have any idea what Ellen's public outcry will do to those who STRUGGLE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SAVE ANIMALS???? It PAINS me on so many levels. Those of you ask to make just this "little exception" just this "one time" have no idea how hard animal rescue groups try to make sure that their policies stay in place so that dogs are given to good homes. Furthermore, according to the rules of this facility, tiny, tiny dogs like this are NOT supposed to go to children under the age of 14, because many small dogs have been stepped on and CRUSHED because of wild playing VERY YOUNG children!

YES -- Ellen had good intentions, and I commend her for that. But now she needs to undo all the damage she's done to truly good no-kill animal rescue facilities who have rules in place for nothing other than the SAFETY OF THE ANIMAL!

If she has any sense of justice AT ALL, she will put an animal rescue group on her show to explain all of this, so that uneducated people STOP their death threats!

I'm appalled at this situation -- but not because of the AGENCY's actions...of ELLEN'S. And her "people." I know people who have adopted from these agencies before, and the agencies are trying to do a good thing by handling the process almost as carefully as a regular adoption agency would handle a baby. People agree to return the dog to the agency if for whatever reason they cannot keep them -- that ensures that the dog will NEVER be dumped anywhere, or placed with a bad home, etc. A friend of mine adopted his dog after two previous familes returned him to their agency -- and thank God they did! These organizations are run by GOOD people, who are there to LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY AND BEST INTEREST OF THE DOGS -- NOT to look out for self-involved celebrities who like to think that the rules don't apply to them. I am so sick to death of these people trying to play the "celeb" card, especially in the way Ellen is doing...when SHE is the one in the wrong here!!

And don't get me wrong -- I've always been an Ellen fan, but in this case, I think she is 150% OUT OF LINE. SHE made the mistake, and while it might seem easy enough to just "work out the details" and let the agency formalize the new arrangement with this family of Ellen's choosing, that is up to the AGENCY. NOT Ellen, and NOT Ellen's hairdresser. And most importantly, NOT the American public. I am appalled that Ellen, in an effort to absolve herself of her own guilt, stoops to using her television show to try to make the AGENCY look like bad people, simply for doing EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO. The agency has not misrepresented themselves here, and they have done nothing wrong. And if in the end, this hairdresser's family doesn't fit the agency's criteria for adoption of this particular dog, then that's just too damn bad. I'm sorry that the daughters of these people are heartbroken, but you know what? Nobody died here...we're talking 2 WEEKS they had this dog. Suck it up, get over it, and take it as a lesson in disappointment, girls. It won't be the last time in your life you have to face it, so enough with the tears, already -- despite the bad example you have in your hysterical Auntie Ellen. (Overreact much??? My God!)

I'm sorry, but Ellen is going to have to shoulder ALL of the responsibility for this one herself (Portia, too)...and I just think it's BEYOND disgusting that she gave such a hysterical, weepy plea on her television show to try to sway the "Ellen-ites" of the world to get on her irresponsible bandwagon here.

Now these poor women who run this GOOD organization are now receiving death threats from Ellen's idiotic fans? I'm sorry -- but THAT is what's wrong here. NOT the actions of the agency. If Ellen wants to have guilt about something, why doesn't she save it for THAT. If anything happens to this agency or the people who run it, Ellen can consider herself 100% responsible for causing it. Do you suppose she's going to break down on TV about THAT, too? If anything, I want to see her get her S together and go on TV to APOLOGIZE -- not just to the girls that she disappointed, but to this agency -- she should say she's sorry for giving their efforts a bad name, and for setting them up to be a target for violence. She should ENCOURAGE the efforts of agencies like this, and urge her viewers to adopt from them, NOT to threaten them. Give me a Goddamn break. She, and everyone else who is rushing to take Ellen's side in this, need to GROW THE HELL UP and pay attention when there are rules/contracts involved with something like an adoption. I'm sick of all the bellyaching over this from people who don't know what the hell they're talking about.

My wife works in PR and this is typical passive/aggressive crap on the part of Ellen and her nasty publicist. Celebs always send them out to do their dirty work. This was a tacky, cynical thing Ellen did-I'm sure this rescue agency has done a lot of work to save dogs, and now they may no longer be able to because of this selfish idiot.

PS The poster who said kids and dogs don't mix is a moron.

Mutts and Moms has put pet adoption back twenty years, not Elen actions. They threatened to get lawyer,media and police involved when Elen was first contacted by them. The rules of putting age limits of children is outrageous and only said threw a person who has no kids.I lived on a farm my whole life not once did I kick a small animal; my children have small animals which they are playing with right now. Who want to adopt a pet if the organization is so controlling. You cannot change things with rules you just talk people out of helping. What they did to those small children is outrageous.I also worked in adoption facility for a week, what they put the new pet owner threw was outrageous, so I quit and place animals on my own without allot of bureaucratic rules, to stop people from owning pets.If kids don't own dog when they are young they sure won't love them when they are older, like everything else in life they learn to take care of their animals. Mrs Batkins overreacted and screwed up her own business, she cannot blame this on Elen. Elen was just pleading to them to have a heart and give the girl her dog back.The girls is heart broken. No one will want to adopt from Mutt & Moms, because what they did is heartless to Iggy.

I worked at one of the big 3 networks for years and had the displeasure of working with and getting to know Ellen. She is cold, calculating and extrememly ambitious. I saw her pull some really ugly crap with co-stars and a particularly nasty incident with an up and coming star (it's interesting but I found many celebs with the most affable on camera personalities are the most reprehensible) That cry baby routine was strictly manipulative. I also found it disturbing that she referred to the dog as 'it.' I am a dog lover and would never refer to an animal as 'it.' I had hoped that she might have learned some humility after her sitcom was cancelled and that crazy Anne Heche business but I asked another friend, who knew her better than I, if she thought she might have learned anything and she related a story about running into Ellen recently at a work related event and that she was still hideous. Don't buy that aw shucks routine, she is bad news! I cringe every time I see her.

It is the same with most nonprofit organizations they tend to be controlling and lose site of the goal, which is the well being of the pet. I saw the clip on Utube and could not believe how out of control the rep for mutts and mom was. You would have thought her dog was in a puppy mill the way she was threatening people. I have not seen the Ellen clip but heard it was just a desperate plea for a dog to be returned to its rightful owner. I feel sorry for Iggy and the family. Specially Iggy I think mutt and mom need to get over themselves and stop calling the press and give the dog back.Who will want to go to their store now.

I think the owners of Mutts and Moms should make an exception to their rule and let the hairdresser family keep the dog. I think they are engaging in a power struggle with Ellen and are trying to prove their point-that they are sticking by their guidelines and will not be pushed around by a powerful celebrity. I think they should do whats right by the dog and let it stay in the family where it is getting along so well and is loved.

Sorry - but the dog rescue agency is WAY out of line here.... Did Ellen break the contract...? Yes.... Is it a STUPID contract...? You bet.... As a dog owner (and all have come from resues and pounds and were strays), I've found that many of the so called "rescue" groups are, while doing good things by saving animals, are stepping WAY out of bounds when it comes to the 'future' welfare of the dog.... I'm sorry, but I'm pretty damn sure that this "new family" for the dog would have been GREAT and that there would have been NO problems.... but this group "mutts and moms" went too far in what they did..... the dog would have been fine in the new home that Ellen found for the dog.....

Shame on Mutts and Moms - get real!

It appears that in less than a month (Ellen got the dog on Sept 20) she spent $3000 dollars (she earns that much every minute by the way) on training the dog (how many days did that take?) to get along with her cats, gave the dog away and the kids bonded with the dog SO MUCH that they are devastated. Oh the drama! All this in less than 27 days. The kids have been pulled into this and are being used as pawns because Ellen feels guilty. The dog is fine because it takes longer than 27 days for a dog to truly bond with the pack. (yes, you people, your dog thinks you are his/her pack). This dog was never given the chance. It will settle in with another family and kudos to the organization for holding their ground on this one. Kids and dogs are not always a good mix. If you have gone to the trouble to rescue a dog doesn't it make sense to not place it into another potentially difficult situation? Why take the chance?

Ellen is a tried and true animal lover. She was doing what she felt was the best thing for the dog. If I had to give away my dog because it was the best thing for it, I would prefer to know the family. Giving away an animal is hard.Why are you making it harder!!!! Really,with as many homeless dogs and cats as there are in this world, how can anyone judge Ellen for taking it upon herself to insure this dog had a good home?

I am part of a grass roots animal rescue group in Seattle and this story is so sad and can only hurt the hundreds of similar rescue groups that help place neglected or lost animals in loving homes. We too have considerations we follow, but in the end, it's all about what's right for the dogs and cats. I'm not sure why Mutts and Moms established an age requirement for their placements. My five year old nephew is fully capable of loving and treating a new pet responsibly. This is not a "Hollywood" issue but sounds like an attorney issue and the folks that run Mutts and Moms should be ashamed that this situation escalated to this level. Kudos to Ellen for being so vulnerable and honest on national television.

Oh PULLEEASE! She gave the dog a nice home & made 2 little girls happy. Now the "adoption" agency is weilding it's bullying power & getting a lot of free press. How does any of this make sense? Give the dog back to the family & stop the insanity!

With all the dogs that are in need of adoption it is wrong that this organization did handle this situation that way! This type of bullying would definitely make anyone think twice before adopting. I adopted a dog once and had the same problem the dog was excepted by my other animals. I had no problem with allowing the dog to go to another family! in fact the Western Arizona Humane Society was thankful I found a good loving family! Shame on them!

MUTTS AND MOMS obviously cares more about the "adoption fees" than the animals, since Ellen paid them $600 for a dog that had not been neutered.

MUTTS AND MOMS were the ones who did not want to work the matter out privately and civilly THEY were the ones that brought the police in to snatch a dog from a child, and THEY were the ones that brought up bringing in the media.

Pasadena Humane Society has come out on the side of Ellen, Ruby and Iggy.

I hope nobody is ever foolish enough to donate to or adopt from these people EVER again. I hope they lose their non-profit status and their kennel license.

If you have ever loved a pet, you understand that there are deep emotions involved, and you completely understand how distraught Ellen is over this situation. She was absolutely trying to do the right thing in finding this dog a loving home, and clearly the adoption organization does not have the dog's best interest at heart. There are so many unwanted pets in shelters all over the world, and they REMOVE a dog from a wonderful placement? If they were truly concerned about whether this was an appropriate placement, they should have taken the time to observe. There are many, many small dogs placed in homes with small children --- certainly younger than 11 and 12! Those children obviously love the dog... what more can you ask for? Anyone with any sensitivity would understand all the tears shed over this, by Ellen and everyone involved!

If you read all the articles you will see that Mutts and Moms is not the most reputable of adoption organizations. They never changed the registration on the dog's microchip, their business has lost its license, and they went and took that dog back without seeing if they couldn't make the situation work first. Aside from the contract, that is not how most adoption organizations operate. Go ask 100 rescue organizations and while most agree that the contract is necessary, they will also tell you it did not have to be handled that way. The ultimate goal is the dog in a good home and they made the contract their priority. Now they are further penalizing the family and the dog because Ellen's fans lashed out at them. Is that Iggy's fault??? It was a childish and unprofessional reaction on their part.

Obviously, Ellen had her henchmen post out here. Not fooling us Ellen. YOU ARE MANIPULATIVE! YOU BROKE THE CONTRACT! Next time pay attention! And right this wrong you've created for animal shelters all over the world. Follow the rules for the sake of the animal.

I can understand that the agency would want to have a say in any "re" placement process for an adopted pet. However, I think Ellen was being sincere, NOT manipulative, in her appeal. Give the dog bacl to the girls and move on. To "take a stand" against someone for trying to be kind is beyond absurd, it is spiteful and self-involved. These women seem far more concerned with 'being right' than with doing the right thing. Give the girls back their pet.

Has Ellen (or the family) personally threatened Mutts and Mom's? If not, then don't take this out on them!! The owner shoudl have weighted her options, realizing what she woudl be stirring up if she continued the repossession of the pet.

Nope, don't BLAME Ellen, blame yourselves. Repoing a pet to earn more cash from soemone else on that pets re-adoption is the cruel part. If the home was good, leave it alone!

With the love that Ellen has for animals do these two owners of mutts and Moms really think that Ellen was doing the wrong thing. Ellen was giving the dog to a family that she knew and that by doing this she would still see the dog and know how he was doing on a regular basis its not that Iggy was going to straingers. I think that if it was just anybody that this dog belonged to in the first place Mutts and Moms would not have been making such a big deal about it after all it is Ellen and her word goes out to a lot of people.

I have worked for a Rescue Organization in Massachusetts and I have to say Mutts and Moms are wrong here. This type of situation happens all the time and they could have simply done a home check and could have talked to or even interviewed the family if they needed to make sure Iggy was safe. This is inhumane to do to Iggy as well because he has now been bounced around from two homes and now back to the shelter.

My agency was not a "no-kill" shelter, and I don't like the term "kill shelter" because we DO NOT euthanize animals for just any reason....but that is a whole other topic.
But because I have been put in the position to have to make life or death decisions because so many animals are surrendered or abused (because there are people out there who just don't view an animals life as important) so when there is a situation such as ellen's it's shocking that ANY rescue agency would be so irresponsible to do this to the family and also Iggy. I've done this work for many years and have never heard of such a thing and I think it's awful.

I am afraid that will happen anyway even if quietly. They sound like the cat and dog police and that isn't a good image for a rescue organization.

They can yell about the 'contract' as much as they like but more people will care about the dog over the contract. Whisking a dog from one home to another and then to the shelter again and then to another home and maybe back to the shelter (it has some boisterous behavioral issues after all) will do wonders for its confidence in humans.

This will also make other people think twice about using a rescue organization. People do talk and this organization managed to make a well-loved celebrity with a national talk show cry on national tv.

Good going.

Please help voice your opinion to get this dog back to the family and these little girls:

http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeIggy/p...

You can also contact them directly to let them know your opinion on this matter(there website has currently been pulled):

Mutts and Moms
Paw Boutique
523 S Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.394.0946
Email: pawboutique@yahoo.com
www.muttsandmoms.org

Ellen never tried to hide the fact that she gave the dog away. IN fact s he was honest about what she did with the dog. The one that was dishonest was the organization who told the family they needed to come over and do a home visit. From there the lady picked up the dog and wouldn't put it down. Grow some and be an adult like Ellen was about the situation. I am sure most of you posting on this site would have lied about the situation.Mutts and Moms are adopting "UNALTERED" dog. What kind of shitty rescue doesn't fix a dog before adoption. Even shelters don't allow unaltered dogs to be adopted.

An unaltered dog can be used for breeding and will add to the population problem. Seems fishy to me.

okay yes ellen did violate the contract but by taking the dog away from what iggy considers as home is actually doing that dog some harm. i have adopted a dog who has been adopted and abandoned a few times and it took a year for him to get used to being at home with us. yes ellen should have called them asap but isn't the moms and mutts organization also bad for just taking the dog, instead of finding another way to resolve the issue. and i thought that when you adopt a dog from a rescue, they have to come fixed???

This is the most sad thing I've seen in a long long time.

My heart goes out to Ellen. SHE DID DO THE RIGHT THING! Her actions came from her heart. Elen did not act out of self-fishness, but rather compassion, honesty, care, concern and so many more positive character assests.

Now, as for this dog agency..>WHAT AN HEARTLESS CALLOUS ASSININE ACT!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! THE ENTIRE DOG AGENCY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!!!!!!!

In a world where children are being abused, wars are being fought, people are figthing for a small piece of happiness a Dog Agency rips a dog from the arms and hearts of children and a loving family and a good home...what has happened to the "primary purpose" of an animal adoption agency......there is soooooooooo MUCH WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!

Pathetic!!!!!!

JJ - NO EXCUSES!!! Signed contracts are actually meaningful documents in a court of law.
*****************************************************
Actually T-bone you are wrong. I can write anything on a piece of paper and make you sign it; but it would never hold up in a court of law. So the contract is not the issue, what is right, is the issue and the dog was in a safe and loving home and the Mutts and Moms pulled it.It is wrong to play with the child's and dogs emotions like that. How that woman could walk out with crying children is and was heartless.Threatening Ellen with lawyer, media and police was also wrong.

Talk about bullying!! Who ARE these women running this doggie shelter? This whole scenario is beyond the pale! It stands to reason that if these women who broker these pets really care, they would return the dog to a family that he has bonded to irregardless of the "rules". They are being prepostereous and their "rules" are obnoxious and repulsive to animal lovers. They are being so unreasonable and I question their judgement. I note their names, are they new to this country? Are they ingnorant to the American way?! Their rules seem totalitarianist!! Are they Eastern European? (that would explain plenty!!) Donors put them out of business please!! Someone "qualified" please adopt this dog and donate it back to the family and screw their rules!! Remember, we are still in the United States and I highly doubt this unreasonable contract you would sign in order to perform a civic duty regarding abandoned animal brokers would be upheld in an American court of law! But Lord knows where these jokers come from!

People.Mutts & Moms is a STORE, and in the back the have STACKED CAGES with the pets. I can tell you this because last year my girlfriend adopted a dog, and after going through hundreds of hoops & $250 she was given the dog. Two days later, they BROKE INTO her yard and took the dog back. Yesterday in the news in LA they had other people the same thing had happened to, these people are wacko......oh, they didn't return her money! This is a business, not a rescue operation. These people should be shut down.

I am an ordinary person that is not famous. The only reason this is an issue is because of Ellen's status. Any other normal person would have to follow the contract.

She needs to follow the same rules as everyone else.

I have worked in rescue for 30 years. We changed our contract due to the inability to inforce a similair requirement. We were told by a lawyer The "contract" requiring the adopter to give us a say in its future is unenforcible. You can not retain rights to something you adopt out. At the time of adoption a fee is paid and an animal is placed. In the eye's of the law a pet is a possession ( not my view) If the animal is being abused you can contact the police. In order to get the animal back the agency should have retained a lawyer they had no legal right to take it.

It is easy to see how this clause could get sticky. If the agency owns the animal after adoption then what happens if it beomes ill, can the adopter seek reimbursement for vet bills? No. Mutts and Moms can not have it both ways. At some point you have to trust that the adopter will do the very best thing for its new family member.

I have seen dogs ripped from families after the adopter passed and adult children wanted to keep the dog that their mom had owned for 5 years. Not fair.

The policy concerning no adoptions to families with children under 14 is outrageous. Children should be judged on a case by case basis.

Tens of thousands of animals lose their lives daily because they have no place to go isn't it nonsense for this agency to be spending time on taking this animal back. It should have met with the new family and checked on the dog. If all was well leave it alone.
I pray it all turns out well for all concerned.

Apparently the people at M&M are more interested in seeing if they can get another adoption fee on the back of poor Iggy than finding him a proper home. It's a power trip for these people and they are obviously not interested in whats best for the dog. I don't believe that Ellen maliciously tossed the dog out. She found a home for a dog that willingly welcomed him. Their rule of not adopting to homes with kids under 14 is offensive in my opinion. I have volunteered in my local shelter and had my 4 year old son right there with me teaching him to treat animals with dignity and respect. He is 10 now and wants to be a dog trainer when he grows up. If it were left up to M&M my son wouldn't be able to have our 3 adopted babies. I feel grateful that I don't have to be judged by these power hungry people.

This is not right. I don't care what kind of agreement was signed when this poor animal was adopted, this is wrong. It doesn't matter that Ellen is famous and has a "big" house or money, or fame. What matters is that she tried to do the right thing. I'm sure Ellen wouldn't give the dog to someone who wasn't able to provide a good home for him and take care of him. As for signing a contract, how many of us have not acted in the same or simular manner forgetting everything we've read? I disagree with Moms and Mutts on this. There are ways to "bend" the rules in special cases such as this one. And I agree with the statement that they are only seeking free publicity. Of all people to pick on! Ellen is one of the most kind hearted people in show business. If I were her I'd go to the SPCA and obtain another dog for the family. Better yet, make it a family outing and let the children and their Mom choose a dog. It won't be Iggy but I'm sure any doggy will mend their broken hearts. This is just another example as to how uncaring and ready to file a law suit people in business and people in general in this country have become. As for Moms and Mutts I would suggest you re-think why you got into the animal rescue business to begin with. I hope it was to find homes for rescued animals and not to make a name/money off of their misfortune. As for Ellen, big hugs and stop the tears. I feel for you and know you were only trying to do the right thing and got a slap for doing so. I'd like to point out that we have all done things on the spur of the moment forgetting contracts that were signed, etc. As for Mutts and Moms --- SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Any pet adoption agency/rescue organization makes you sign a contract saying if you cannot keep the animal you must give it back to them. They do not want it winding up in some shelter on the euthanasia list, or given away to an irresponsible or cruel person. They do extensive interviews and home visits to make sure the adopter is responsible, has a fenced in yard, has the finances for vet bills, etc. They did all that with Ellen, NOT the hairdresser's family. It sucks that Ellen did not read the whole contract or forgot what she signed, but that is her fault. If Ellen really believes this hairdresser and her family can provide a loving, responsible home for the dog, she should try to help them adopt the dog through the channels of the agency, rather than try to make this charitable rescue organization out to be the bad guys. Hopefully she is not turning people off from adopting in general.

ANON: I hate to bust your bubble, but No one from Mutts & Moms came by Ellen home, nor did Ellen sign any contract. The only reason Mutt & Moms knew the dog was not with Ellen is because the new family registered Iggy on line to them. Barkis is raging that the rich think they can get away with any thing ,but not this time. It sounds like she has a chip on her shoulder and she is making these kids & Iggy pay. Read E online and get the fax about the case, there was no signed contract by Ellen and no one checked out her home; so who screwed that one up. Some rescue organization you are defending!!!

I was reading the answers. There are two parts here, 1) Ellen did break a contract and 2) the Mutts and Moms people did break two little girls hearts. What is worse. Personally, I think that breaking the two hearts are worse. Why could they not have charged Ellen for the violation but then put a big rush on allowing the new family to keep it? Was mutts and moms looking for some publicity? If they were they have it. I ask that all people boycott Mutts and Moms and actually go to the local "pound" and adopt from the county or state. Also, what I am hearing is Ellen never signed a contract so how could you say she broke what she did not sign.

I heard Ellen on Ryan Secrest today; she said no one from M and M came by her home, nor did she sign any contract. So it seems Ms Bitkis does not have a legal leg to stand on; she broke one of her own rules, so should all her dog be taken away from her. She walked away from crying children begging for her to not take their dog. What kind of woman can do that to a child. I also have a problem with her not fixing her dogs; that is not a responsible pet rescuer if you ask me.Batkis keeps saying the celeb get away with things all the time and it does sound like she is getting back at Ellen for being famous. But why did she allow Ellen to adopt a dog and not check out her home or have her sign the contract. The woman is nuts if you ask me...

I was going to adopt a dog from a rescue shelter; but I can't afford a lawyer to read the contract.

Sources tell ET that while the agency claims Ellen broke her contract by giving him away to a trusted co-worker, the Mutts & Moms owners themselves have not followed all the rules set by their company. They allegedly did not require Ellen or her partner PORTIA DeROSSI to fill out an application, nor did they change the registered owner information as they said they would.

Additionally, it is said the contract in question does not contain an age clause, another reason given by Mutts & Moms for taking back the dog.

Our sources also tell us the family Ellen gave the dog to -- her hairdresser, her husband and their two pre-teen daughters -- did fill out an application online when the dog took up residence with them. It was at that time the agency said they would come out to inspect their property as part of the adoption process. Instead, they reclaimed the dog and calling the police. As Mutts & Moms were officially registered as the owners by the chip, authorities turned over custody to them. Mutts & Moms is claiming the dog was adopted to another family.

I cannot believe they gave that dog away...What did Batkis mean that the Ellen DeGeneres of the world won't win. Sounds like it is personal to this Batkis woman. I also just read that it is against the law to put dog up for adoption when they are not fixed; so it looks like Mutts & Moms are in big trouble. The contract also had nothing it it about age of a child. I have a feeling Ellen will be suing for the 3,000. she paid for medical and do on for this dog. It is sad that these two children had to learn that woman who have no kids can become dog freaks, and care abut nothing but themselves. It is called control issues and Batkis needs to work on these issues if she want to own a business.

If dog rescue want to control the pet 24/7 why adopt them out.Go the the SPCA and adopt a dog you can keep forever...and ever, and ever....That way you don't have to worry about a control freak...

I agree with you guys. I totally see both sides and understand where Mutts and Moms is coming from, but also think the situation could have been much easier resolved if they just did a home check, app check and all that with the new family and went from there. They didn't need to "take away the dog"....especially now it's been what...2 weeks?

I feel as though it has now become a pride issue. Mutts and Moms doesn't want to give the dog back because of their pride. They should take a cue from Ellen - who had the graciousness to admit that she made a mistake, that she didn't follow Mutts and Moms guidelines - and she did all this in front of millions of people. Yet she had the best interests of both dog and the feelings of fellow humans at heart.

If that Greek bitch (I can say that b/c I'm Greek and know a lot of them), had an ounce of common sense she would've just visited the house, made sure that the environment was safe for the pup, and collected another adoption fee (like someone here suggested)... End of story!!!
But noooooooo!!! She has to "take a stand against the super rich who are threatening her".....what a bunch of bullsh**

I heard the Ellen interview this morning on the radio.
In fact, she didn't sign a contract and there was no home check.
On top of this all animals that are so called "rescued" are supposed to be altered before they are adopted out.
Iggy was not.
Ellen,eventhough she is a celebrity,was given special treatment and then it came back to bite her in the ass.
I truly believe that both parties are right for different reasons.
When 7 million animals are being euthanized each year that fact the Ellen found an alternative home for that VERY LUCKY dog is remarkable in itself.
Ellen DID NOT bash the rescue group and has apologized for trying to do the right thing.
The rescue group has turned it in to a bigger deal than it could have been.
They could have gone to the new owner's house and at least see if it was adequate for this dog, Iggy.
Ellen says she paid 1600 dollars for this dog to be neutered and to go home that night with the vet. Basically,this dog is the pawn and that makes me sick.
i work with a rescue group and my animals ( 5,right now) are rescued.
there are a lot of sick mother truckers out there and the groups for the most part are strict for a reason.
Anyone who adopts a rescued animal should know that if they DO NOT change the info on the microchip,whom ever's name is on it at the time it is found or whatever,that info is proof of the owner .
Which means that you could have your dog for 10 years and if the former owner says,"oh yah, that's my dog" the animal control officers are forced to give it to them and NOT YOU.
I hope this does not scare people away from rescuing.
NO ONE should EVER purchase or support puppy mills. You are just supporting a pound animal or 10 to die a horrible death.

Has anyone read M&M's adoption contract? I have. I adopted my dog from Marina 3 years ago. Aside from promising to let my dog sleep in the bed and get on the furniture (which is perfectly fine with me), I had to promise NOT to adopt another dog and I am NOT allowed to transfer the microchip information into my name for as long as my dog lives. Excuse me?? This is my dog!! IF something awful happens and she gets scanned...I WANT HER BACK! Not the rescue!! There comes a time where you let go of the control and move on to the THOUSANDS of other unfortunate animals that need HELP!

Sounds like controlling organization if you ask me. The control is not legally binding for one thing; it would never hold up in court.It sounds like M&M did not even follow there own rules. I also have a problem with the store being closed today but the dog was adopted by someone else. So the people like Ellen don't win; that is sick because all they did was punish the kids and Iggy. Sounds like human hater on our hands here...

To me the real problem here is why didn't Ellen give the dog time to adjust to the cats? Sometimes it takes a while. Buying a dog to people like me is like adopting a baby and you don't just give that dog away if he doesn't like someone else in the house, you give it as much time as it needs to adjust. But, whatever happened to if you bought it, it's yours? That contract sucks in many ways and the M&M didn't stand behind their part of the contract and change the address in the microchip so they violated the rules of the contract first and that should have made the contract null and void.

EXCUSE ME ASSHOLE WHO POSTED THE LAST TWO POSTS UNDER MY USERNAME (WHICH OBVIOUSLY I WOULD NOT HAVE WRITTEN). Have enough guts to use your own username. I have a very strong opinion that Ellen was WRONG here and I would NEVER EVER Change my mind. SO the next person who writes here using my username and says OH ELLEN WAS RIGHT -- is NOT ME.

I have a little cat and I could NEVER try and bring a dog into her territory, she'd never speak to me again. I've had friends over with their dogs and she just wasn't having any of it.
So, giving Iggy to her friend was probably hard for Ellen to do, but she did it with the best of intentions. It's a shame its escalated to this.
I am travelling abroad soon with my cat. I was laughing last night, she has more papers and documents than me!

I just read that the dog went to
a different home better suited for
a dog of that size.
HA HA ELLEN! You do the wrong thing,
you pay the price no matter how
famous and and how big of a bully
you are.
HAHA
HAHA
HAHA

T-Bone, I was starting to wonder if you'd taken a turn!

Fake T-Bone, scat!

Dear Ellen Degeneres/
I will never, ever watch your show again, because you used your show as a venue to destroy another person's business. Keep your personal crap to yourself and remember that you are not above contracts and laws. I hope the owner of that business sues you to high heaven and wins. You should NEVER have used your celebrity muscle to vent your own problems. You destroyed her. And you managed to set animal rescue groups (who only have the animal's best interests at heart) back 25 years.

Hate the identity stealers, Green. If you have something to say then use your very own made up name ;)

I'm sure I can guess who it is. I'll do my best to put the kabosh on that before it gets out of control once again. But seriously, Green...as a cyber friend -- do you really thing I'd turn that easily? ;)

T-Bone, no I was surprised because I've read other posts of yours regarding puppy mills, Michael Vick and now this, and know that animal rights and welfare are causes close to your heart and you have very definite opinions. So yeah, I was slightly puzzled.

I don't understand what kind of thrill these posters who use other poster's names get. Really, get a life, its pathetic.

The contract was not legal in a court of law. So M&M deserve to have the full media on there tails. You cannot break a child's heart like that and get away with it. The woman is obviously on some heavy drugs and need to get mental help for her drug addiction. If she had children she would not have walked away with the puppy in her arm while that child sobbed her eyes out. You do not do that to a child. Thank god it did happen to Ellen so people are warned about this M&M heartless ways. This would have made news anyways because it is a crappy thing to do to a child. No one will want to adopt from these fanatics. The stories are coming out of them steal dogs from homes to resell them. What slime balls. I hope Ellen sues them for every thing they have. They deserve to be out of business.

Very close to my heart, yes... And because I work with a rescue group, I know how adamant they are about the rules, but only for the well being of the animals -- truly. Seriously, a friend of mine from work wanted to adopt from my group, but he would not commit to spaying and neutering, so they pretty much said "AH NO -- NO adoption". But my group actually keeps all of the dogs in foster homes, so there's no such thing as cages. Dogs are cared for in healthy homes until a seemingly GREAT "forever" home comes along, and then that home is investigated -- background checks and all. The adoption fee for our dogs is $250.00, but that includes all shots, the spay and neuter, de-worming, flea dips, initial grooming and more. Anyways, our group is very cautious, because so many of the dogs they pick up from the pound and other "kill" shelters have ALREADY been abused by human beings. Thus the rules and regs...

P.S. Um - the last T-bone that said they are the REAL T-bone was not the real T-Bone -- again, anyone saying Ellen was right IS NOT ME.

Hey T-bone-how do you get so lucky? Man, these people-with-no-life sure love to *uck with you, 'eh?
I agree with you that Ellen blew it. She was wrong to give the dog away without contacting the rescue and she was wrong for using her show to vent her frustration and attempt to garner sympathy-and get her own way. I think the rescue organization would probably have dealt with the situation a lot differently had Ellen not been so blatant in her actions.
Sounds as though the rescue you volunteer with is a up-standing operation. The one I dealt with when I adopted my cat and a dog was horrible. The dog was terrible with my son and tried to bite me when I verbally corrected it. I called them and told them to take the dog back and they argued with me, telling me to give it more of a chance. I gave it two weeks and I was done. When they finally came to get the dog, they were rude. I finally had to call their legal reps to find out what happened to the dog-they put it down due to aggressiveness. They never offered us another dog, they didn't even say 'thanks' for the donation! So, there are all kinds out there. I think the Mutts and Moms woman was just trying to follow rules and Ellen made an ass of herself.
For what it's worth T-bone, I can always tell when it isn't you posting...it isn't difficult!

Thank you, Zekers... I appreciate it, and while those who matter know, it's still a frustrating thing. Seriously, if someone has an opinion, it's just so easy to state it under any name they'd like. No one will ever know who they are, so what's the point of stealing someone else's name? Anyways, I've reported it, so hopefully something will be done about it. I have a feeling it's our same lame friend from b-4. Nothing else to do, I guess, and too weak to stand on their own two feet. Sad really.

Oh and thanks for the support on Ellen. Couldn't agree more ;) Sorry you dealt with a bad group -- sucks :(

Ellen stinks but she did the right thing here. Mutts & Moms aren't looking out for the dog, they just want a little power.

In a court of law a pet is considered your property. To do with it what you want. Not to abuse by any means but if you certainly wish to give it away because it's prblem for your other pets you can. The thing with the contract is the contract cannot bind Ellen forever. Even contracts have limitations and legalities. This she can have a stand on to fight. The animal had already bonded to the home it was in as well had the children with it. The advocate for the animal shelter never said otherwise, said that the faminly Ellen had placed it in was unfit, endangered it, misstreated it in anyway.

Now all you haters that are posting Lesbo being above the law stuff are homophobes trying to create drama. No one is above the law. There is only the law and what is right and fair for everyone.

My son who is 12 has never once abused, misstreated, kicked, hit, punched or in anyway hurt our dog. On the contrary he is very kind. I know lots of kids who do not as well. There are only a few Jeffery Dalhmers

no if the animal shelter didn't want to have to worry about this they would of just investigated the other family instead they did this intentionally to get on television SERIOUSLY who the hell says i think ill take a dog away from a famous person and none of there fans will threaten me or come after me with a pitch fork.

yes ellen broke the rules did not read the small print but the dog was in a home because she did not contact the shelter they took him away pride thing i guess the show of power because its a business after all hell we all break rules everyday all of us but its ok if we dont get caught rite.

Dear Lord, Ellen is OBNOXIOUS! I can't stand her, or her ridiculous fanbots. Their rabid behaviour (i.e. death threats because poor wiwwle Ewwen was made sad and cwied on air) reminds me of the hardcore Rose lovers back in the day. Hey, Rosie lovers? Any of you still out there? Or have you finally realized that Rosie is a loud, obnoxious broad whose cutesy-cuddly image is not the "real" her. Rules are rules, and contracts are contracts. Follow them. As for the people saying no contract was signed--then why did Ellen say she didn't read the contract? Whatever. This story is ridiculous. I'm sure the "poor little broken hearted angel girls" will get over it. Mummy can by them a new toy (or pick up a new animal at another shelter), and they'll be OK. Don't worry, they won't become drug-addicted prostitutes or need years of expensive therapy over this. Damn!

mutts went at it the wrong way there was no reason to call the police and have them there when they got the pet its a power thing thats all yes ellen signed a contract but who reads the whole contract hell we all break rules every day all of us but its ok as long as we dont get caught rite mutts is a business there in it to make money the more homes to put a pet in the more they get its not a non profit business other wise things would be diffrent

your correct ray it is a business they have to make money if it was a non profit business the dog would have never been taken away .shame on you mutts

Apparently, Ellen DeGeneres has some heavy duty "dog karma"...

About two years ago, I adopted a dog from a picture someone sent me via email. It was a rescue, and when they showed up to my door to drop off the dog, it didn't look like the picture. That said, I gave it a try and kept the dog for a few weeks. I gave her a new name "Stormy", a bath and haircut and got her on a routine, however, I just wasn't digging the dog. SO, I told my hairdresser about her and at the time she was doing Ellen's hair on the show. She thought for sure Ellen would want to rescue the dog, being she was such a "dog lover" and preserver of dog ethics, so she gave her a call.

Sure enough, I got a call a few days later from my hairdresser saying that Ellen and Alex (her girlfriend at the time) would like me to come down to NBC so that they could check out the dog. I drove down there around 4pm on a taping day. I think Sting was the special guest. I was led to her dressing room where she was having her hair done as she ran her lines for the show. Her mother was there, just kind of hanging in the background, with the rest of her entourage, Alex, her assistant and various other ass kissers.

"So, has she been fixed?" Ellen asked. I said I didn't know. She was in shock that I didn't know whether the dog was fixed or not. Apparently if you look on their stomach you can find an incision. I didn't know this at the time (it was my first attempt to own a dog), but before I could answer, Ellen turned the dog upside down and found a little scar on her belly.

The next 4 HOURS were intermittent with hilarious scenes in which everyone on the show and everyone in her entourage got themselves all involved in the dog Ellen MAY or MAY NOT adopt from me. They were all coming into the dressing room and playing with the dog, as if it were a new extension of Ellen's vagina. Ellen was unsure I was telling the truth about the dog being potty trained, so her assistant started following me around to make sure the dog didn't shit anywhere. About every 15 minutes he would ask me if I would like to take the dog out, and of course every time we took the dog out she wouldn't go to the bathroom. The poor dog knew I was giving her away and the looks she was giving me were tearing me up...

After about three hours of hanging in the dressing room, Ellen and Alex had a pow-wow and decided to take the dog for a few nights "to see" if they wanted to keep her. Ellen kept asking me if the dog would do that "play thing" they do with cats when they pounce and get down on their paws. How could I know, I had never seen the dog around cats.

As I was finally about to leave at 10 pm, Alex, Ellen's girlfriend came up to me to tell me that she and Ellen had made the dressing room next door available to me so that I could talk with the dog privately to tell the dog I was giving her up to Ellen. The purpose being, they didn't want the dog to act weird when Ellen actually took her physically. This would surely do the trick!! I told her that wouldn't be necessary, I had already had a conversation with the dog on my way there!!! So, as we walked out, Ellen said her assistant would be calling me because she wanted him to pick up the very small amount of remaining dog food I had left. Fine.

Much to my dismay, the next day her assistant came by and picked up a very small bag of dog food from me!!!

A few more days passed and I hadn't heard from Ellen or the assistant, in regards to the dog and if they intended on keeping her. I called Ellen at home, and she answered. She said they would keep the dog but it was NOT potty trained (which it was) and it was doing that "play thing" with her cats. She then went on to say that she was concerned about MY attitude towards her assistant. Apparently he thought that I gave him a dirty look in the hallway at NBC and that overall I seemed "cold" to him. Her fussy little fag assistant thought that I seemed "cold??? I said, "you know, Ellen, if you asked anyone who has ever met me, the last thing they would ever say is that I am cold. I was giving a dog away, which I felt bad about so that would certainly be the reason I might have had a weird look on my face. I think your assistant is being a little hyper-sensitive. I don't really know what else to tell you." "Ok, yeah....well it's just that he said you know...you had that funny look on your face.", she said. I said, "Ok, well good luck with the dog and send your assistant my love..." What?

Just to ice the cake....my friend quit doing her hair about a month later, and told me about a week before she quit Ellen gave Stormy away to the family of someone who works on the show. What a dog lover she is....

littlecommando wow really.

i agree jdot mutts and moms you deserve all the crap you get and then some thats no way to run a business idiots

I knew it wasn't "The Real T-Bone" if only for the reason that "The Real T-Bone" can differentiate between "there and their"......... "The REAL T-Bone" is simply smarter than that!!!!