Agencys to Keep DeGeneres' Dog:(
 

Agencys to Keep DeGeneres' Dog
By BETH HARRIS, Associated Press Writer
4 hours ago


Ellen DeGeneres is shown in this, Jan. 9, 2007, ...
LOS ANGELES - Ellen DeGeneres' doggy drama intensified Tuesday after her tearful plea on her talk show led to death threats against the rescue group that took back her adopted dog for violating the contract, according to a spokesman for the agency's owners.

DeGeneres explained on her show that the Brussels Griffon terrier mix didn't get along with her cats, so she gave it to her hairstylist's family. The owners of Mutts and Moms claimed that DeGeneres violated the adoption agreement by not informing them that she was giving the dog away and removed Iggy from the hairstylist's home Sunday.

As a result of the publicity, Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun received voice mail and e-mail threats of death and arson and were besieged by the media, disrupting business at Paws Boutique store in Pasadena, where they handle the volunteer, nonprofit rescue agency, attorney Keith A. Fink said.

Batkis rejected DeGeneres' plea to give the dog back to her hairstylist's family.

"She (Batkis) doesn't think this is the type of family that should have the dog," said Fink, who is not legally representing the owners but is authorized to speak for them. "She is adamant that she is not going to be bullied around by the Ellen DeGenereses of the world ... They are using their power, position and wealth to try to get what it is they want."

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

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

On her talk show taped Tuesday and airing Wednesday, a serious DeGeneres reiterated to her audience that "the dog needs to go to the family."

It "just needs to be in a good home," she continued, according to a transcript given to The Associated Press. "All that you're supposed to do is put a dog in a loving home."

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

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

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

I hadn't heard that! I really thought (and hoped) that they would return the dog to the family. :( I didn't realize they had the policy of no children under the age of 14 with small dogs. Mine are 10 and almost 8 and are FANTASTIC with Bella. They might spoil her too much, though! ;) How small is the dog? Does anyone know?

that is so sad i saw it last night and this morning on the news, i know a contract is a contract and although celebrities should not get special treatment. At least she wanted the dog to go to a good home you know poor puppy going through all that.

That makes me upset. and also infuriates me. I honestly can't stand shelters. AT ALL. What do you want to bet a number of their workers have kids under 14 & have dogs. I think it's better to give a dog to a family with younger kids, so they can LEARN to be nice, than to give a dog to a family with a bunch of teenagers who've never been around a dog. and speaking as a 14 year old, MOST of us who haven't grown up with dogs would be playing catch with it or something like that. It's just stupid.

No children under 14?? Are they crazy, children would never have dogs. I don't like to see yorkies with children under 5 but this is absolutely wild.

That is insane.

I'm all for the best interest of the animals, but these darn rescues are keeping SO many animals out of loving homes.

My family/home doesn't meet many of the requirements of most rescues either, and let me tell you, our dogs are SO tremendously loved and spoiled and happy. It's sad to think about how many animals are deprived that, because of some stupid ecsessive RULES!

How sad that this shelter does not understand how compatabile a child
and his/her dog can be. There is nothing in the entire world that's better
than the love between a child and dog.
If these children and family are proved to be mature, loving and take
the responsiblity of dog ownership seriously then shame on this shelter!
More dogs could be placed into loving homes if the shelter's were not
so crazed with getting the perfect home. There are no perfect's homes.
Nothing in this world is perfect. The shelter's IMO should have people
to go to different homes and evaluate them. Not having a fenced in yard
does not mean you can't provide a loving home for a homeless animal.
Ask anyone of my three previous dogs and BUDDY. I have such respect
for the people who do animal rescue but they just have to relax their
way of thinking. Each inquiry should be handled individually. I wonder have
many wonderful homes get turned down while these dogs just lay around
a foster home waiting to be placed. Makes no sence at all.
No wonder the shelter's and rescues are over loaded.

That is absolutely ridiculous! It is a shame it's escalated to death threats but you'd think she's just go ahead and give back the dog to make this go away. She seems to be taking this on as a personal cause and not being able to make an exception to her 14 yr. and older rule is a silly cause.

That's aweful! Rescues are definitely too strict sometimes! I know they have to be strict and am glad they are for the dogs' sakes but sometimes they can be rediculous! I can understand having a policy for no children with small dogs but 11 and 12 are old enough to know how to treat a small dog! I can understand like 8 and under but come on...11 and 12??? And obviously they'd had the dog for a couple weeks and they dog was still alive wasn't it??? I understand policies but sometimes exceptions can be made..especially when the dog could have been in a loving home. This rescue is pathetic :mad:

I think the 14 year old rule is unfair in this situation. I could maybe see if the kids were 2 and 3 put they're old enough to know how to handle a dog.

Noah is 4 and he and Kalina get along fine. I am very careful, believe me, but there's no reason why it can't work. Some of these agencies are just a little to full of themselves and the power they have to make rules.

I suspect Mutts and Moms depends on public donations to maintain itself. I'll tell you, this kind of publicity is not the way to procure donations or fund raise for the continued existence of your organization.

i feel so bad for this pup :(

exactly

What's sad is that it's all the other homeless pups in this shelter's care who will suffer because this organization feels it has a point to make.