UPDATE here.
____________
This is one of those aggravating "rules are rules" stories.
Even though the mission of the non-profit organization Mutts and Moms is to "rescue dogs from Los Angeles City and County shelters," the group took a dog out of a loving home.
(Note: The site is down. Look at the cached page here.)
Why? The group's adoption rules were broken.
LOS ANGELES -- Ellen DeGeneres is in the doghouse with a pet rescue agency after giving a pooch away to her hairdresser because it didn't get along with her cats.
The talk show hostess and her partner Portia de Rossi adopted Iggy, a Brussels Griffon mix, on Sept. 20. But when things didn't work out, DeGeneres gave the dog to her hairdresser.
In doing so, DeGeneres violated an agreement with the Mutts and Moms agency by not informing them of the handoff.
When the agency called DeGeneres to ask about Iggy, she said she found another home for the dog. The agency sent a representative to the hairdresser's home Sunday and took the dog away.
...She admitted she didn't read all the paperwork involving the adoption.
DeGeneres said she spent $3,000 having the dog neutered and trained to be with her cats. But the dog had too much energy and was too rambunctious, she told her television audience.
"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," she said in a show transcript provided to The Associated Press.
"I thought I did a good thing. I tried to find a loving home for the dog because I couldn't keep it."
DeGeneres said her hairdresser's daughters, ages 11 and 12, had bonded with Iggy and were heartbroken when the dog was taken away.
"Because I did it wrong, those people went and took that dog out of their home, and took it away from those kids," a sobbing DeGeneres said on her show.
"I feel totally responsible for it and I'm so sorry. I'm begging them to give that dog back to that family. I just want the family to have their dog. It's not their fault. It's my fault. I shouldn't have given the dog away. Just please give the dog back to those little girls."
I understand the need to abide by rules. Mutts and Moms has procedures in place to protect the animals. That's good.
However, why would Mutts and Moms take Iggy out of a loving home, just in the name of following their rules?
Ellen DeGeneres is not Michael Vick.
What is the organization's mission?
Is it to place homeless dogs in good homes or to uphold rules?
DeGeneres admits that she made a mistake.
Wouldn't it make more sense for Mutts and Moms to give DeGeneres a little tap with a rolled up newspaper for breaking the rules but allow Iggy to stay with his new family?
There was absolutely no reason for the group to make Iggy and the children suffer just to punish DeGeneres.
Finding a good home for the dog is what matters.
Mutts and Moms should have established that Iggy was in a safe place with loving people. There should have been no need to take him away.
What was the point?
An apology from DeGeneres should have been enough for Mutts and Moms.
Is the organization a "forgiveness-free" zone?
Mutts and Moms seems to be battling animal cruelty while engaging in human cruelty. Not good.
__________________
Contact information for Mutts and Moms
E-mail:
pawboutique@yahoo.com
Mailing Address:
PO Box 50393
Pasadena, CA 91115
__________________
Now HERE is an example of an unfit home.
More than two hundred fifty dogs and cats at a home in rural Lee County, outside Rochelle, are getting their first real taste of affection, as well as consistent food and water in a long time. Their owner, 65-year old Barbara Munroe, is in Lee County jail facing animal cruelty charges. Since Friday, animal rescuers have been moving the pets out of Munroe's home and into a temporary shelter.
"The animals are going to be cared for as best they can, taken care of medically, fed," says Lee County State's Attorney Paul Whitcombe.
But rescuers were too late for as many as two hundred of the animals they found dead all around the house, some just skeletons. Rescuers believe Munroe did not want to hurt her pets and did her best to care for them, but couldn't do it alone.
"She was way out of her league with this. So it's very possible they died of upper respiratory infections or old age or starvation is certainly a possibility," says Beth Drake, Executive Director of Tails Humane Society in Dekalb.
Dozens of pens wrap around the outside of the house. Rescuers say the outdoor animals may actually have had it best. They say it was inside where there were piles of feces, no light and no fresh air that animals suffered the most.
"It's beyond filthy. I'm not sure what the word would be to describe it. The smell in there is very overpowering. Your eyes burn almost immediately. But our focus was on these animals have been breathing like this for quite some time so clearly we can deal with it for the time that we're in there," says Drake.
Mutts and Moms should offer to take some of these poor animals; rescue them rather than take Iggy away.
27 comments:
You obviously know nothing about animal rescue organizations and how hard they work to find homes for animals. Time and time again, animals are returned for silly reasons, contracts are not followed, and animals are the ones that suffer.
You said it yourself that "Finding a good home for the dog is what matters." But it is not up to Ellen to decide what is a good home for a dog that has been cared for by a rescue organization--that organization has the responsibility to screen and approve all homes. How do you know that this hairdresser is providing a "loving home" as you put it?
Kudos to Mutts & Moms for upholding their contract. Shame on Ellen for using her position in the public eye to make it look like she isn't the bad guy here. This does a huge disservice to animal rescue organizations. Shame on you Ellen!!
Rescue mills are in it for the money, pure and simple. They have back room deals with municiple humane societies to give the rescue mills first dibbs on the most profitable dogs. They obviously are taking advantage, in this case, of the $3000 invested in this dog, and will turn the dog over to somebody else for a bigger profit. Double dipping.
Rescue mills need to be regulated as much as puppy mills do. Instead, they have free reign to operate in this dishonest manner.
Mutts and Moms were happy to take money from a BIG Star and then have a holier than thou attitude when said star tried to do the right thing. Now they will (Hopefully) have more negative press and people will go directly to non-profit animal rescue organizations to adopt a homeless animal.
What a load of rubbish!
I think that woman Vanessa is disgusting! I understand Ellen should have notified the agency, but all they could have done is just interview the new family, make sure they were loving and responsible pet owners and just LET IT GO. It was a mistake! Everybody makes them. Vanessa is just trying to set an "example" of Ellen...like Ellen did something SO HORRENDOUS to warrant this! She didn't give the dog to the sausage factory! So what, Ellen made a mistake...now everybody has to pay because of Vanessa's power trip and cruel and unwarranted whim. I think Vanessa is DISGUSTING!! I'm sure they'll be a terrible backlash against her and deservingly so. I hate cruel people. Now these other poor dogs are not going to be adopted from their organization because they'll have to deal with that witch! She should give that dog IMMEDIATELY back to that family. I'm sure that dog is suffering with them.
Rescue Mills is right!! I have another name for them "Rescue Nazis". Sometimes I think are in it for the adoption fee they can get over and over and I also think it's an ego thing to. Deciding who gets to adopt a dog is a big ego rush. I've been around lots of rescue people and they all let the power go to their heads. They disqualify people because of stupid reasons sometimes. I've even seen these 'resuce people' laugh about a family's sincere interest in a dog because the family wasn't as militant as they are. Why couldn't Mutts & Moms have interviewed the hairdresser's family and then decided? Yes, Ellen made an honest mistake. It wouldn't have hurt to interview the family on the spot--you had the time to go and get the dog, why not interview at the same time? This was a bad move on the part of Mutts and Moms. There are exceptions to every rule. Try showing a little compassion for a human being who made an honest mistake. Sheesh!
It is unbelievable to me that ANY organization, especially and animals rights group such as Mutts & Moms, would loose site of the bigger picture and storm into a private home to once again "rescue" that poor dog. Of all people Ellen!!!! Get a grip... I had 4 dogs [all litter mates] for 5 years until we moved here to San Diego and the two females started fighting. Finally, after much work and thought and searching, we found a wonderful home for one of the females. We go to visit her often and she is loved and well cared for and so are the remaining three still with us. [It was the best decision for all of us, including the dogs!]It's organizations like Mutts & Moms and their Nazi rules that gives animal rescue organizations the reputation the good ones fight so hard to separate themselves from. Shame on you M&M, there is NO rule so important that love should be overlooked, on Ellen's part and the family!
They've taken down their email address from their Contact Page on their website (no wonder). But it was still listed on a link on another page.
WE NEED TO LAUNCH AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN TO GET IGGY BACK HOME!
If anyone would like to express their displeasure with Mutts and Moms, just send your loving comments to:
pawboutique @ yahoo . com
WE CAN HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL
WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN
As I said in my original post, it's good that Mutts and Moms has procedures in place to protect the animals.
Ellen admits that she made a mistake by not thoroughly reading the rules of adoption.
It really shouldn't be so difficult to find a solution to the matter without doing more emotional harm to all involved, including Iggy.
I can understand why Mutts and Moms wouldn't want to just assume that Ellen's hairdresser's household is fit.
Let the group check them out. Let the family fill out the paperwork. Let Iggy stay where he is. Everybody would be happy.
However, according to Ellen, Vanessa of Mutts and Moms went ballistic when she learned that Iggy was at a different home. She was screaming and threatened to call the media, lawyers, and police.
When Vanessa and the Mutts and Moms crew showed up at the hairdresser's home, she claimed to be there to do a house check. She didn't inspect the house. She just grabbed Iggy. She held the dog for two hours until police arrived. Police allowed her to take the dog because the electronic monitoring device on Iggy still listed Mutts and Moms as the owner.
It certainly seems unreasonable and unprofessional on the part of Mutts and Moms to immediately threaten Ellen with the media as well as legal and police action.
Yes, Ellen made a mistake. She admits that. I think Mutts and Moms also made a mistake by handling this so poorly. The group isn't commenting.
There's no statement, nothing, on its website.
The silence from Mutts and Moms is deafening.
I cannot understand how and/or why they would remove Iggy from a loving environment. Could they have not just simply gone to Iggy's new home and conducted an interview at the premises rather than proceed in such an insensitive manner. Insensitive not only to the children but to Iggy as well because a BOND was already made. Now what are they going to do, put him up for adoption and ask for additional fees? They should have gone to the home, conducted the interview, and just simply as Ellen for donation!
I think as long as people remain reasonable and respectful in their comments, I'm sure Mutts and Moms could benefit from feedback on this matter.
Of course, no one should send any sort of threatening remarks to the group or to Ellen.
I can't vouch for that e-mail address (no longer available on the site), but here's the mailing address for Mutts and Moms:
PO Box 50393
Pasadena, CA 91115
Mutts and Mom's email address still listed on one of the pages of their website is: pawboutique@yahoo.com .
I found it at http://www.muttsandmoms.org/ under the "How to Adopt" page.
You're right.
The address is still on the "How to Adopt" page.
pawboutique@yahoo.com
I completely agree that this could have been handled with some class. Mutts and Moms should have interviewed the new family and been assured that this was a good home, done. I can't believe the stupidity that someone couldn't have figured that out and actually had to call the police - like they have nothing better to do. If Mutts and Moms couldn't figure out this solution in a thoughtful, intelligent way, I sure don't want them finding a dog for my family. By the way, here is their phone number. 626-394-0946. If you do call them, please leave them a respectful, intelligent message, don't stoop to their level. Send Iggy home.
I completely understand that the organization has good intentions with this rule. I am sure there are times, more often than we would like to think of, that a good family adopts a pet that isn't the best fit for all and they give them to someone they feel will be good for the pet. This could continue until a pet is in a bad situation. I actually respect this rule for that reason in particular. But, the fact of the matter is we know these animals need good homes. That is the main focus of this organization if I am not mistaken. I know that this has probably happened before and this is just very publicized due to the parties involved. But putting all of this aside, the dog was not in a bad atmosphere. Maybe Mutts and Moms could consider a new policy for a transferal adoption form so that they can keep up with where the animal is located if there is a change. I am a mother of four and I know that the girls involved in this case is deeply hurting. Please try to work something out for them Mutts and Moms!
Being a voluteer for a well respected dog rescue group, I can see where Mutts & Moms are coming from. They want their dogs to be returned to the group so they don't end up in a situation that got them there in the first place!! That is why they screen prospective adopters. The dogs come from all kinds of backgrounds...abused, neglected, stray, owner surrender, dead or dying owners. These rescue groups are not in it for the money, they do it because they don't want to see animals put to death in shelters. It takes some pretty ambitious volunteer people to be part of a non-profit rescue group and fundraising is no easy task. I do think that M & M would have been better off keeping this quiet by reviewing the new family, then having them sign a contract if they checked out all right. Now all parties involved are hurt in some way.
I'm a fan of Ellen and I can tell she is a very caring sensitive human being who cares deeply about animal welfare. But you would bet if your next door neighbor gave his rescued dog to his friend and the rescue group came to take it away, not too many people would really care. If M& M is a reputable rescue program I feel sorry for all the dogs waiting in line to be adopted who probably have a meer chance after this media circus is over.
It took a big, rich, famous football player to open up America's eyes to the horrors of dog fighting. Thanks Mike, now maybe more of us will do something about the horror of a "sport" that has been going on for many years before you were born. And thanks Ellen for giving so many people something to talk about today.
"Anonymous", you are way off base here. You have to keep in mind the ultimate goal of the rescue agency...to provide a happy home for an unwanted pet. Obviously this little dog is wanted by the hairdresser and her family. I have adopted 2 myself (not from Mutts and Moms)and I have never been checked on to see how the pups are doing. They only checked because it was a celebrity. Let the family have the dog. Ellen is obviously very remorseful for violationg a "rule". Her heart was in the right place and so would Iggy be if put back in the home.
I run a rescue and I am well aware of how hard it is to find good homes so I seriously question M & M's goals here.
Wouldnt it have been more prudent to simply inspect the hairdressers home as an alternate adoption placement rather than repossess the dog?
I found the phone number for Mutts and Moms on the web (took a bit of searching!) If anyone cares to call or write instead of email, the address and number is:
Map Mutts and Moms
523 S Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.394.0946
Boy, did Mutts & Moms mess up big time! We all know how much Ellen loves animals and wants only the best for them. She even advocates for adopting rescued animals and has a link on her website for it. So when she found that Iggy was too rambunctious for them and the hair dresser expressed an interest, it's a no-brainer! Ellen would never have given her the dog if they weren't good people. She invested money in it to have it neutered, shots and trained. Besides, they already had a dog so they're not new to dogs. Not only did Ellen's plea air on her show today (Tuesday 10/16/07), it also made my local news! So hopefully it will show on all local news shows and the pressure would result in Iggy being returned to Ellen's hairdresser - after a vet has checked him out to be sure he didn't contract any diseases while in their possession.
Give the dog back to Ruby - as healthy as it was when you ripped him from their arms!
Kathy
From AP:
Mutts and Moms owners Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun were in possession of the dog and will not be giving it back, attorney Keith A. Fink told The Associated Press.
"She (Marina) is not going to give them the dog," said Fink, who is not legally representing the owners but is authorized to speak on their behalf.
"She doesn't think this is the type of family that should have the dog. 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."
It doesn't sound like these women care about rescuing animals. They seem to care more about saving face.
The one who is hurt the most in this is Iggy! That poor dog was ripped out of loving arms for no good reason and its a shame. I realize Mutts & Moms is trying to do the right thing but they seriously need some guidance if they want to remain in business.
Mutts & Moms has gotten so much bad press out of this that I suspect they will either go out of business of have to change their name. What a bunch of idiots to remove a dog from a loving home because of some "rules" when so many dogs are euthanized on a daily basis.
Put Vanessa in a cage, tag her, and see who takes her home ! Shame on her ! Give the dog back to the loving family ! Ellen, you have my full support !!!!! To strip a doggie away from a loving home with police !! and threats......is a power trip for this woman......I pity any doggie in her rescue...she obviously has no compassion for a loving family that accepted this doggie into their homes and obviously loved it......Cold hearted and no compassion....??? How did she get to run a rescue to begin with? Go Ellen ! Go Ellen ! you fessed your mistake...and are trying to make things right ! Karma will bite the witch !!!!
Ellen admitted her wrong to the public, regardless of how embracing it may have been. Now it is time for Mutts and Moms to do the right thing and return Iggy to those little girls, where he is loved. If Mutts and Moms can't get over their ego, I'd call for a boycott of them, and that LA animal control needs to get out of bed with them. There are other more respectable rescues organizations that can fill the gap. Ellen, you are a kind and caring person; as human you made a mistake, but it was not for loving Iggy and wanting to do right by him. SHAME on MUTTS and MOMS.
I would have never allowed them access to take the dog back.
That was their first mistake.
How do any of you know that the hairdresser is providing a "loving home"??
You don't. None of us have the full story here, so how can people be so passionate about Mutts & Moms screwing up? Only because Ellen has a bigger stage to tell her side of things?
Come on, until you know all the details, you can't be so judgemental for either side.
Kudos to Mutts & Moms for sticking by their rules (which are in place for excellent reasons). Ellen Degeneres should be ashamed of herself for bringing the issue to national attention and as a result, has harmed/destroyed a rescue group. Ellen and Portia appear to have communication issues since Portia is the one who apparently signed the contract, but Ellen took it upon herself to portray being the one who signed the contract. Most the dribble I've read is not based on any facts and the relevancy is highly suspect. I hope all of you that have sent hate mail and made threatening phone calls to the rescue are ashamed of yourselves for attacking a rescue group of which you have little to no information of. So now more animals can continue to suffer because the rescue group can't operate efficiently and can't fund their efforts. Instead of attacking the rescue group , why don't you donate money to help the group which in turn will help the needy dogs. But no, that would be too much to expect from easily swayed minds.
Post a Comment