Ellen DeGeneres Cancels Show Amidst Dog Adoption Crisis
Published on October 20, 2007 by Ryan O'Meara · 2 CommentsTalkshow host Ellen DeGeneres has called off filming of her popular US chat show amidst the emotional turmoil of a dog adoption crisis. According to the Associated Press:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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.
Source: Link >>
Many dog enthusiasts have criticised Mutts and Mums for taking what appears an excessively hardline approach to the whole situation.
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
Tags: Animal Welfare
I’m sure that she signed an agreement that the dog went back to them if she couldn’t keep it. She went against this agreement so the adoption centre are right to do what they did!
The important issue here is the welfare of the animal.
I think it’s completely unnecessary for the Mutts & Moms organization to be making snide comments about Ellen personally. She is not using her celebrity to try to resolve the situation—this is an actual personal matter for her.
I also think it would be the smart thing to do to have the new family re-adopt the dog….then all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. Clearly they have policy that must be followed, but they should have offered up right away to go through a formal adoption process with the Hairdresser’s family.
It sounds like the shelter staff have a personal problem with Ellen, which isn’t how people who work for animal organizations should be. The focus is obviously not on the pets, as it should be.
Very sad, and I know that’s how Ellen is feeling right now.
I hope Mutts & Moms pulls their heads out of their asses soon.