Anyone see Ellen D's dilemma?

Wow...saw a clip on Yahoo. That sucks. Sounds like she was trying to be good to the dog and place him in a good home when she realized she couldn't properly take care of it. I understand the (I signed a similar one myself) but why would they not let the dog return to the home? That's one more space for another dog in need of a second chance.

I watched it on YouTube...that's a sad deal. She was very emotional and clearly distraught by the situation.

She must've had to sign a contract when she adopted the dog. It surely stipulated as a significant provision that if for any reason Ellen could not care for the dog then it was to go back to the rescue organization, unless other arrangements were agreed upon.

That's a sound practice. If I were the rescue group I would not want -- and would not allow -- those who met the adoption standards to turn around and give the dog to someone else who may not meet those criteria, which are in place for the dog's welfare.

And I wonder why the cat situation was not sorted out before the adoption. I wonder if the rescue group was made aware of the cats, which would be an obvious concern? Did the rescue group do a home visit with the dog? Did they observe the dog interacting with the cats before allowing the adoption?

A learning experience all around, I'm sure.

I hope the pup finds a loving home, somewhere.

:)

Sure enough, she signed a contract. I think too many celebs think rules don't apply to them, even when they agreed to the rules in a contract. I'm with the rescue group. And instead of death threats, the rescue group's founders should be getting kudos and contributions for helping dogs. I feel badly for them and the pup in this case. Ellen and her partner screwed up.

That, Batkis pointed out, violated a written agreement de Rossi signed in which she agreed to return the dog to Mutts and Moms if the adoption didn't work out.
DeGeneres acknowledged she erred but said her hairdresser and her family shouldn't be punished.

"This is so insane," a calmer DeGeneres said on her talk show Wednesday. "It's just the dog needs to go to the family."

Batkis has refused to back down.

"If Ellen wants to place dogs and decide what's a good home, then she should start her own rescue group," she told "Inside Edition." "But I'm the one doing this and I know what I'm doing."

I honestly didn't want to debate this topic because it's such a debacle of a normal rescue placement. I'll make this one post and leave it at that - for obvious reasons I have a very strong opinion about this.

I think there were mistakes made all the way around. There are so many issues going on with this it's insane.

First, the rescue shouldn't have adopted a small breed out without spay/neuter first. Evidently, either the rescue is reckless in placement, or they cut a famous person some slack - I would guess the later. And yes, they had every right to do what they did. While I don't think I would have handled it quite the same as they did, I cannot condemn them for simply doing their job.

Second, surely anyone who signs a contract reads and understands it. It's common for rescues to put the clause in the adoption contract that returns the dog to the rescue in the event the adopter can no longer care for the dog - FOR ANY REASON. To say you didn't bother to read the contract is just silly.

Third, Ellen had no right to give the dog away, see #2. Besides, how long did you even have the dog anyway???? Anyone dare to guess??? You'll be surprised when you finally figure it out...

Finally, to go on TV and make a spectacle of the whole issue the way she did has done more harm to countless homeless animals. By turning the whole issue into a media frenzy, there is a wedge driven right into the heart of rescue organizations throughout the country - if not the world.

What should have been resolved between the rescue and the 'adopter' has now been turned into an ugly situation, and in turn has made the word "rescue" synomious with 'evil' or 'uncaring child haters'.

There is enough blame to go around for all those involved in the failed adoption, but now the ones that will suffer the most aren't two little girls, or a TV talk show host's ratings, or even a small rescue.... no the ones that will take the brunt of all this are the thousands of homeless dogs that will never be adopted from rescues all because someone who "thought" they wanted a dog took the easy way out... and then tried to make the ones that are truly trying to make a difference in the world look like the bad guys.

Way to go Ellen, you should be proud of yourself. You have single handedly caused the most damage to countless rescue animals in the country. You should be ashamed of yourself. I know I am ashamed of you.

Bravo, bh!!

Nicely stated.

I'm also reminded that I had to sign a contract when I bought Gidget and one of the provisions was that in the event I could no longer care for her, the breeder was entitled to reclaim her.

Now I'm certain with Gidget being 5 years old, the breeder (with whom I maintain contact) likely would approve of my sister as Gidget's guardian. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly endorse such contractual requirements from responsible breeders, and rescue organizations. They are necessary for dogs' welfare.

Yes, bh, Ellen's been selfish all the way around on this -- most destructively by exploiting it on her television show.

:|

Death Threats Won't Sway Rescue Group to Return Dog Ellen DeGeneres Gave Away

Wednesday, October 17, 2007



LOS ANGELES — The owners of the doggy rescue agency that snatched back the pup that Ellen DeGeneres gave away say they are not going to bow to death threats from fans and pressure from the talk show host and they will not return the dog to DeGeneres' hairdresser.
"It's never gonna happen," attorney Keith A. Fink, who is representing the owners of the Mutts and Moms agency, told FOXNews.com. "There is more of a chance that the Yankees are going to win the World Series this year."
Mutts and Moms dismissed DeGeneres' tearful plea on her talk show Tuesday, maintaining that DeGeneres violated her contract by not informing them that she was giving away the dog, a Brussels Griffon terrier mix named Iggy.
Click here to read Ellen's blog and her explanation of the dog controversy. (http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2007/10/iggy.php)
"They are not going to be bullied by the Ellen DeGeneres (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302527,00.html#) camp," Fink said. "It's Hollywood culture — she thinks she's above the contract and the law."
Meanwhile, TMZ.com reported Wednesday that the owners of the pet adoption agency have filed a police report about the death threats they've been getting.


Full story (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302527,00.html)

Rescue group finds new home for Iggy

Mutts and Moms doesn’t believe hairdresser’s family is right for pooch


MSNBC News Services
Updated: 7:15 p.m. ET Oct 17, 2007
LOS ANGELES - Ellen DeGeneres (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/#)' doggy drama intensified when the agency that took the talk show host's adopted dog back said they have found a new home for the canine.
Access Hollywood spoke with Keith A. Fink, the attorney for Mutts and Moms (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/#) owner Maria Batkis, Wednesday morning and the attorney said that another home has been found for the dog although he was not able to say for certain that the dog has been physically given to the new owner yet.
He added that Batkis is distraught, under medication at her home, and that she cannot come out of her house. He says that both he and Batkis are getting numerous e-mail and phone threats, as well as death threats.
A publicist for DeGeneres, Kelly Bush, also allegedly took matters a step further by leaving what seemed like a threatening message for Mutts and Moms.
“We’re filing a legal case against you. We’re going to be contacting the media. This is not going to be good for your store or your organization,” Bush said on the tape, which was first played by “Good Morning America (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/#).”
However in an interview with the New York Post’s Page Six, Bush denied making any threats.
“If Ellen’s object was to destroy my client to get her way she has done that,” Fink told Access. “My client is destroyed.”

More (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/)

Famous wealthy people are different.

A publicist for DeGeneres, Kelly Bush, also allegedly took matters a step further by leaving what seemed like a threatening message for Mutts and Moms.

“We’re filing a legal case against you. We’re going to be contacting the media. This is not going to be good for your store or your organization,” Bush said on the tape, which was first played by “Good Morning America (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/#).”

However in an interview with the New York Post’s Page Six, Bush denied making any threats.

“If Ellen’s object was to destroy my client to get her way she has done that,” Fink told Access. “My client is destroyed.”

More (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21336607/)


Thuggish. :mad:

It appears Ellen cares not at all about the dog but is only worried about her hairdresser.

Lousy.

Very unbecoming behavior.

Ellen was wrong...simple as that. A contract is a contract.

I adopted a dog that had been returned to the pound. TKO is a very energetic dog and the first family had small children. I was looking for my french bull dog at the time. It was love at first site...and when they told me they were going to put her down soon...well, I could not stand it.

I never found my bull dog.....I brought home a terrier:D

Let's put this all into perspective... This isn't the first time that Ellen has done this either. She has done this on several occasions, even discussing them on her show each time over the years. For whatever reason she has never tried to get any of the dogs she adopts trained to be around cats or doesn't give the animals time to adjust to one another.

She also has never let the shelters where she gets the dogs that she has cats that have a history of not getting along with dogs in her house.

What she did on her show was all bull$h!t. She never should have given away the dog, it wasn't the proper thing to do and she and Portia knew this.

Just another reason to not like her.

I signed this same contract for BOTH of my current rescue pups and will sign it again when the time comes. It is in place for a reason. There have been some good posts on this issue and there isn't any more I need to add.
Let's all keep the focus...........THE DOG(s)

I honestly didn't want to debate this topic because it's such a debacle of a normal rescue placement. I'll make this one post and leave it at that - for obvious reasons I have a very strong opinion about this.

I think there were mistakes made all the way around. There are so many issues going on with this it's insane.

First, the rescue shouldn't have adopted a small breed out without spay/neuter first. Evidently, either the rescue is reckless in placement, or they cut a famous person some slack - I would guess the later. And yes, they had every right to do what they did. While I don't think I would have handled it quite the same as they did, I cannot condemn them for simply doing their job.

Second, surely anyone who signs a contract reads and understands it. It's common for rescues to put the clause in the adoption contract that returns the dog to the rescue in the event the adopter can no longer care for the dog - FOR ANY REASON. To say you didn't bother to read the contract is just silly.

Third, Ellen had no right to give the dog away, see #2. Besides, how long did you even have the dog anyway???? Anyone dare to guess??? You'll be surprised when you finally figure it out...

Finally, to go on TV and make a spectacle of the whole issue the way she did has done more harm to countless homeless animals. By turning the whole issue into a media frenzy, there is a wedge driven right into the heart of rescue organizations throughout the country - if not the world.

What should have been resolved between the rescue and the 'adopter' has now been turned into an ugly situation, and in turn has made the word "rescue" synomious with 'evil' or 'uncaring child haters'.

There is enough blame to go around for all those involved in the failed adoption, but now the ones that will suffer the most aren't two little girls, or a TV talk show host's ratings, or even a small rescue.... no the ones that will take the brunt of all this are the thousands of homeless dogs that will never be adopted from rescues all because someone who "thought" they wanted a dog took the easy way out... and then tried to make the ones that are truly trying to make a difference in the world look like the bad guys.

Way to go Ellen, you should be proud of yourself. You have single handedly caused the most damage to countless rescue animals in the country. You should be ashamed of yourself. I know I am ashamed of you.

I agree with this entire post.
If the threats to that rescue group do materialize into action, Ellen should blame herself for it. And pay for any damages.

I smell a lawsuit...

Read the contract when you adopt, it's not like you are renting an appliance!

As someone stated earlier, Ellen wasn't the only wrong party involved. Sure, she should have read the contract and she should have given the dog back and she should not have gone on TV about it.

But, the shelter should not have given her the dog if they knew she had two cats and issues with them in the past. Also, from what I've read, the sheltered threatened to go to the media if she didn't return the dog. Itseems like they want asmuch attention from this as Ellen...letting her adopt because she's famous and using media coverage as a threat.

I feel bad for the kids and the dog. They had no idea what would come of this. Everyone else did.

Most breeders and almost all rescues want the animal returned to them if you are unable to care for the animal. My dog's breeder has such a clause in her contract; same requirements in my ferrets' contract from the rescues.

Brussels Griffons are fine with cats if they are raised with cats. My Griffon loved my cats - he used to wash them and sleep with them.

It could have been a cat issue too. Whatever it was, Ellen broke the contract - period. She should have contacted the rescue and her hair dresser could adopt Iggy from the rescue. Simple common sense solution. However, Ellen must not have read the contract or thought she was above such things. Considering her lifestyle, she probably does not give a hoot....

I don't really know anything about Ellen or the shelter, but what I really want to know is if the shelter really keeps tabs on all of their animals. I signed a similar contract last October when we adopted Pepper, and I haven't heard a word from anyone from the rescue since. I asked my friends with adopted dogs and none of them ever had a follow up from their respective shelters either. So did they take the dog back because they really cared for its well being or did they take the dog back because a celebrity was involved?

I'm glad the dog has found a new home, hopefully he can stay put this time. And hopefully that poor rescue worker quits receiving death threats, that's just ridiculous!

I think the whole thing is a "Ratings Boost" that is orchestrated during the Ratings Sweep and her show's ratings will then be used to charge Advertisers.
:cool:

I have always found Ellen to be completely annoying and so flamboyant. I think she got what she deserved. And now she is trying to ruin the lives of the owners of the rescue. What a standup individual :rolleyes:

What a standup individual :rolleyes:

Well, she did get her start in standup comedy...

I had a dog I got from a rescue. It was a newfoundland/golden retriever mix. I signed a contract that it would be returned to the rescue if I could not care for it properly. The dog was okay at first, but then just got wild as can be. I decided one day to take it to my friends house out in West Chester, as he had just gotten a new dog. HE has an enormous back yard. I let my monster run around in the yard with his dog. The 2 played forever. When it was time to leave, my dog did not want to come with me, it wanted to stay and run in this huge backyard my friend had. I talked with my friend and I called the shelter to let them know He was going to be taking the dog, as he had the room for it. At first they said that would violate the contract, but they were willing to work with us. Someone from the shelter came out to observe the dog at his place. They saw this dog was great with his dog, and it also loved his kids. The person from the shelter voided my contract and brought out one for him to sign, as he was now the legal guardian of the dog. I just did not have the room for this dog to run around, which it loves to do. This was 8 years ago and my friend still has the dog, the kids named it monstro, as it has the body and size of a newfoundland, but the face of a golden retriever.

I think if Ellen had just called them first, they may have been able to work something out, as happened in my case. Maybe common sense goes out teh window when you become famous.

After months of waiting for the right dog, I was blessed with Megan from the Aussie Rescue folks in PA. She totally changed my life for the better.

I just cannot understand this whole drama other than to label it as yet another in a long line of celebrities who seem to think they operate on a different plane from the rest of us where rules and conduct don't matter.

shes got people here in los angeles really pi##ed off at her.now that you point out her pattern of this sort of thing [i didnt realize that]i wouldnt be surprised if her show is about to run on fumes before its a crash and burn.

I had a dog I got from a rescue. It was a newfoundland/golden retriever mix. I signed a contract that it would be returned to the rescue if I could not care for it properly. The dog was okay at first, but then just got wild as can be. I decided one day to take it to my friends house out in West Chester, as he had just gotten a new dog. HE has an enormous back yard. I let my monster run around in the yard with his dog. The 2 played forever. When it was time to leave, my dog did not want to come with me, it wanted to stay and run in this huge backyard my friend had. I talked with my friend and I called the shelter to let them know He was going to be taking the dog, as he had the room for it. At first they said that would violate the contract, but they were willing to work with us. Someone from the shelter came out to observe the dog at his place. They saw this dog was great with his dog, and it also loved his kids. The person from the shelter voided my contract and brought out one for him to sign, as he was now the legal guardian of the dog. I just did not have the room for this dog to run around, which it loves to do. This was 8 years ago and my friend still has the dog, the kids named it monstro, as it has the body and size of a newfoundland, but the face of a golden retriever.

I think if Ellen had just called them first, they may have been able to work something out, as happened in my case. Maybe common sense goes out teh window when you become famous.

8 years later... thats a great great happy story.i love that Shi#:grin:

Maybe common sense goes out teh window when you become famous.

Common sense isn't so common...

Maybe she'll reflect and go back and apologize. Maybe she's been made aware that a lot of people think this whole thing reflects badly -- on her!


Ellen Cancels Tapings After Dog Flap

http://static-p-a.comcast.net/api/assets/img/2007/10/e9/e9b10cf1ff62400d9013010a4b89f361.jpg (http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/entertainment/2007/10/16/People.DeGeneres/#) In this photo released by the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Senator Barack Obam... (http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/entertainment/2007/10/16/People.DeGeneres/#)

1 hour ago //

LOS ANGELES —
Ellen DeGeneres' talk show was put on hold for a day because of her emotionally wrenching dog-adoption drama.
"It's been a long week and a tough week and we decided to take a long weekend and be back on Tuesday," said Laura Mandel, a spokeswoman for Telepictures Productions, which produces "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
DeGeneres was scheduled Thursday to tape shows to air Friday and Monday. Instead, the tapings were canceled and reruns featuring Jessica Alba and Queen Latifah will air on those days. A new show is planned Tuesday.
The battle over Iggy, a Brussels Griffon terrier mix, pitted DeGeneres against an animal rescue agency and, at one point, had her in tears on her show. The agency's owners complained of receiving death threats over the dispute.
DeGeneres adopted the dog, then gave it to her hairstylist's family after the dog, despite training, couldn't get along with the comedian's cats, her publicist has said.
Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun, owners of the nonprofit Mutts and Moms agency, 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.
DeGeneres pleaded for Iggy's return to the hairstylist on Tuesday's show. She said her hairdresser's daughters, ages 11 and 12, were heartbroken when the dog was taken away.
But Mutts and Moms' owners were adamant about their decision, and a spokesman for Batkis said she wouldn't be "bullied around by the Ellen DeGenereses of the world."
At a taping of the show Wednesday, DeGeneres told the audience she wouldn't talk about the matter again unless Iggy was returned to her hairdresser.

shes got people here in los angeles really pi##ed off at her.now that you point out her pattern of this sort of thing [i didnt realize that]i wouldnt be surprised if her show is about to run on fumes before its a crash and burn.

I doubt it'll go down because of this. People thought her career was over after she came out on TV. Sure, that took awhile, but she's insanely popular right now. I bet this will be forgotten about in a month or two. Remember the outcry over Imus? Me neither.

I am looking for the link, but I read this morning that Ellen has a LONG history of doing this. She's actually adopted some 9 times only to give the dog away. :roll:

Yeah, a real upstanding individual. I used to love Portia de Rossi, but I'm beginning to doubt her ability to judge good charater. :cool:

I am looking for the link, but I read this morning that Ellen has a LONG history of doing this. She's actually adopted some 9 times only to give the dog away. :roll:

Yeah, a real upstanding individual. I used to love Portia de Rossi, but I'm beginning to doubt her ability to judge good charater. :cool:

Nine times? Why in the hell is she still able to adopt? You would think she'd be red flagged or something. My god. Here I was trying not to doubt her immediately...

The Los Angeles Police Department made a mistake in the Ellen DeGeneres dog case

10/22/07
The Los Angeles (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) Police Department have come out and stated that they believe that they made a mistake in the Ellen DeGeneres (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) dog case as they should not have allowed Marina Baktis leave with Ellen’s dog Iggy. Marina Baktis is the representative and big wig of Mutts and Moms whom Ellen adopted the dog Iggy from. Ellen then gave the dog to her hairdresser. Police are stating that they should have not allowed Baktis to remove the dog from the hairdresser of Ellen as they could have talked it out for a better resolution.
Baktis is trying to hold Ellen to a contract which also may not have any substance to it as Mutts and Moms was not licensed at the time it was issued and made clear.
It is also believed that Baktis entered the home of the hairdresser under false pretenses as she told the family she was doing a home inspection and made them sign a paper before coming in and taking Iggy the dog.
There are expected to be far more developments from this as the LAPD continues to sort through the case. The president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) stated that “Mutts and Moms was too rigid, even though I am sure they are very fine and dedicated people. They were a slave to form and forgot the real-world circumstances. They lost their chance to have Ellen serve as an advocate for them and for animal adoption, instead turning a potentially positive event into a distressing experience for all involved, including Iggy.”

The Los Angeles Police Department made a mistake in the Ellen DeGeneres dog case

10/22/07
The Los Angeles (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) Police Department have come out and stated that they believe that they made a mistake in the Ellen DeGeneres (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) dog case as they should not have allowed Marina Baktis leave with Ellen’s dog Iggy. Marina Baktis is the representative and big wig of Mutts and Moms whom Ellen adopted the dog Iggy from. Ellen then gave the dog to her hairdresser. Police are stating that they should have not allowed Baktis to remove the dog from the hairdresser of Ellen as they could have talked it out for a better resolution.
Baktis is trying to hold Ellen to a contract which also may not have any substance to it as Mutts and Moms was not licensed at the time it was issued and made clear.
It is also believed that Baktis entered the home of the hairdresser under false pretenses as she told the family she was doing a home inspection and made them sign a paper before coming in and taking Iggy the dog.
There are expected to be far more developments from this as the LAPD continues to sort through the case. The president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.overthelimit.info/entertainment/2007/10/22/the-los-angeles-police-department-made-a-mistake-in-the-ellen-degeneres-dog-case/#) stated that “Mutts and Moms was too rigid, even though I am sure they are very fine and dedicated people. They were a slave to form and forgot the real-world circumstances. They lost their chance to have Ellen serve as an advocate for them and for animal adoption, instead turning a potentially positive event into a distressing experience for all involved, including Iggy.”

Wowzas...that's nuts. So everyone in the situation was in the wrong at one point or another...

I have 5 dogs at my house that someone else dumped at a shelter for one reason or another. One of them being a returned because he was too big (at 24 lbs) and one being returned because he "chewed stuff".....hum, imagine that.....a dog chewing stuff.... :sad:

I just dont know what some people are thinking when they adopt an animal but I wish MORE people understood it should be for the life of the animal.

Well I love them, my life sure wouldnt be the same without them! Now people call them "lucky dogs"!

I know i said I would just post one time about this, but dangit no one is telling the truth about this whole event.

This is the third time I have seen this in the press, and I had to dig to find it... Why does the press have to be so dang selective in what they report???

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/hoffman/5236018.html
Oct. 22, 2007, 6:16PM
DeGeneres should learn to obey rules
Over the weekend, Ellen DeGeneres and Iggygate became less a three-hanky shaggy-dog story and more an examination of America's drunken stupor with celebrity, the power of Hollywood stardom — and one star's possible abuse of power.

Unless you're a myopic news junkie who's concerned with Iraq and that silly presidential campaign, the hot story last week was DeGeneres' on-air sobbing meltdown over Iggy, a terrier mutt that she adopted from a shelter, kept for 10 whole days, then gave away to her hairdresser, who has two young daughters. She did this despite agreeing to return the dog to the shelter if things didn't work out with Iggy.

That's the rule when you adopt from this shelter. If you decide you don't want to keep the dog, no problem — just return it to the shelter and it'll find another home for the dog. What is so hard to understand about this rule?

According to the shelter's attorney, the shelter actually tried to let the hairdresser keep Iggy. The shelter asked the hairdresser to come down and fill out the necessary paperwork. But the hairdresser refused to follow the rules. So the shelter repossessed the dog and gave it to a different family, one that filled out the paperwork and qualified to adopt Iggy — a family that followed the rules.

Cue the tears. DeGeneres went on her enormously popular television show, which pays her tens of millions of dollars a year, and wept like a spoiled brat. If you listened closely, you heard her admit that she broke the rules. But rules, shmules, when you're a celebrity. She said that she had Iggy neutered and paid the veterinarian "extra money" so Iggy could sleep in the vet's bed the night of his surgery instead of a creepy cold kennel. DeGeneres also said she paid thousands more for dog training. She said her hairdresser's young children became attached to Iggy and love him very much.

So pretty, pretty please, could the shelter drop its silly rules and let the hairdresser keep the dog?

Uh, no?

DeGeneres' scene created hysteria. The shelter was bombarded with calls and e-mails from DeGeneres' fans. Included in the bombardment were a couple of death and bomb threats, according to the shelter's owners. DeGeneres came back on television and asked her fans to knock off the blitz. Then she took off two days from her show, which only served to stoke the controversy.

Now, I understand why companies give stacks of money to celebrities for endorsements. A television star can sell a product — even when the product, in the case of DeGeneres and Iggy, is breaking the rules. Michael Jordan makes millions putting his name on basketball shoes that will not help you play like Michael Jordan. Authors get on their hands and knees and pray that Oprah Winfrey will select their book for Oprah's Book Club. Every book Oprah recommends becomes a guaranteed best-seller.

Oprah can sell the public on anything — except, according to the polls, Barack Obama's candidacy to become president.

Over the weekend, it seemed every talk host and comedian had something to say about DeGeneres and Iggygate. Howard Stern still was yipping about DeGeneres on his Monday show, suggesting that she might not deserve Dog Owner of the Year.

It was interesting how many commenters started their spiel with, "I like Ellen, but ... "

It was interesting, too, how many dog lovers were turned off by DeGeneres' sob story. HBO's Bill Maher really battered DeGeneres for being selfish, then took it too far when he said all women should be ashamed of her tantrum. Maher has pretty good credentials as a dog lover. "I'm on the board of PETA," he said.

Bill O'Reilly had comedian Dennis Miller come on his show to talk about DeGeneres. Miller also said he liked DeGeneres but admitted the two haven't gotten along since he made an unkind joke about her many years ago. Miller thought that DeGeneres should have tried to resolve her Iggy problem privately but sided with the talk-show host, saying her heart was in the right place.

O'Reilly also interviewed the lawyer who represents the animal shelter. The lawyer said, several times, that the shelter would have allowed DeGeneres' hairdresser to keep the dog — just come to the shelter and fill out the necessary paperwork. The lawyer said the hairdresser refused. So the shelter took back the dog.

The shelter's lawyer blamed the controversy on "Hollywood culture" and DeGeneres' "arrogance."

The shelter believes that small dogs do better in homes without small children. The hairdresser has two small children. Whether you agree that small dogs don't get along with kids is a different matter. That's the rule. DeGeneres agreed to the rule.

Then she disagreed — and sicced her fans on the shelter, which she snooted "is not a home, is not a family." DeGeneres is not naïve. By going public, particularly by crying, she knew her fans would go ballistic on the shelter.

This is why she gets paid a fortune to host a TV show. This is why companies throw money at her to advertise their products. She is very likable and convincing. Fans lap up what she's selling.

I'm not buying. I'm a dog lover and, like the shelter, I'm in the business of finding good homes for unwanted dogs. I run an "adopt a dog" feature in the Houston Chronicle every Sunday.

So I'm a dog person. What I'm not is an expert in dog adoption. That's why I simply drive customers into the animal shelter, but I let the experts at Citizens for Animal Protection decide which family gets the dog from the newspaper.

And I like Ellen, too, but she should have kept her mouth shut, her tears to herself and, if she really, really loved Iggy, let the shelter conduct its business and find the right home for Iggy.

Paying "extra" so a dog can sleep in the vet's bed and crying on TV about poor little Iggy doesn't make you an animal lover. It makes you a publicity hound.

Publicity hounds don't make good pets.

I just heard a report on the radio this morning, that Ellen is habitual about adopting and giving away dogs, somewhere between 9-11 dogs so far. She has some sort of mental need to own or "rescue" a dog, but as soon as she sees fault she gives them away. She has issues she needs to resolve and until then NO MORE DOGS!

I personally find Ellen Degenerate nauseating but this whole mess is really starting to make me sick. It's too bad countless numbers of pets are in danger of losing their chance of finding a loving home, for what? the idiocy of a few. Yeah, that includes Degenerate and the press and media.