Ellen Degeneres

[Wenton]

Where is this shelter supposed to draw the line between making sure people feel good about adoption and enforcing rules that have a specific purpose? Ellen broke of the main rules and it's sad that the dog was taken from people who are fond of it, but had she checked with them, this whole thing could likely have been avoided.

Even on her show, when she's crying and apologizing, she seems like she's trying to emphasize how the "bad" shelter took the dog from the "good" family when she described how the dog was taken from a loving home. I think this is more about Ellen being (like most in comedy showbiz) sort of nutty and flaky rather than the shelter being mean to her.

[kostgard]

I'm amazed at all these rules because when I adopted my dog from the pound (as a 21 year old college student, no less) I just filled out a quick little questionaire that was basically just asking if I planned on abusing the dog or not, then they all but tossed her at me.

As for this situation, there has to be some sort of happy medium. I understand that they are careful about who they allow to adopt dogs, but marching over to the hairdresser's house and just taking the dog back seems excessive. Once they discovered that the dog was with the hairdresser, they should have contacted her and said, "Okay, we need to get you started on the official adoption process ASAP or we need to take the dog away" and go from there.

[sugaree]

appleydapply said:

Maybe this dog was not intended to be in a house with small children? That may be the main reason why the shelter took him back.

The article said that the kids were 11 and 12.

I am actually surprised that those clauses are legally enforceable. Of course, she did just get the dog last month. Maybe things would be different if she had it for a year then gave it away.

[Binky]

I dunno where I come down.

I understand the need to make sure pets go to suitable homes, but at some point there's a degree of intensity where it just discourages pet owners. House inspections, etc. My family is very private. We love animals, and have raised everything from squirrells to sparrows. But we wouldn't want a house inspection - that's just invasive.

We adopted a dog from a special no-kill shelter, and they asked for updates on the dog for a while. After the first year, it was like "she's our dog now, leave us alone."

That said, Ellen also broke the rules and it's not like the dog's being euthanized. It's in the shelter, being cared for. It sounds like the shelter should just inspect the new home as per policy and allow them to have the dog. It sounds like both Ellen and the shelter are being drama-queeny.

[Deleted]

What a bunch of bullshit.
IMO some of these rescue places are a step removed from hoarders. They need to get a grip and give the dog back.

Go Ellen!

[Deleted]

This shelter seems a bit over zealous. Granted Ellen broke the rules but I don't think she did so maliciously. I hope the family gets the dog back. And I hope the people who run the shelter get some Prozac. All my life I had/have dogs and love them to death, but they are just dogs! As long as you feed them, walk them and give them the necessary attention they will be happy. No need for all this drama.

[angelaudie]

Here's what I want know. How did the shelter find out that she gave the dog away to begin with? Were they following Ellen? Did Ellen inform them about giving the dog away just so they would know where the dog was at now? Did the shelter stop by for a surprise check? I also question if this is even legal. I would think once Ellen took custody of the dog it was her dog and if she wanted to give it away she could. What if 5 years from now Ellen had wanted to give the dog away? What would the shelter do then?

Finally, I do agree that some animal shelters take it way too far. Some won't let you adopt if you're not 21. Some won't let you adopt if you have other pets. Some won't let you adopt unless you have other pets. I've even heard of people not being allow to adopt from a shelter because they had jobs! I understand of wanting to make the dog will be taken care of and loved but there has to be a line somewhere.

[kostgard]

Here's what I want know. How did the shelter find out that she gave the dog away to begin with? Were they following Ellen? Did Ellen inform them about giving the dog away just so they would know where the dog was at now? Did the shelter stop by for a surprise check? I also question if this is even legal.

Ellen said that they called her to check in on the dog, and she told them that she had given him away to her hairdresser.

[Deleted]

I dunno where I land in this either. A part of me thinks that if Ellen just talked to them they would have been understanding, but then I think that the shelter people themselves, to go and rip a dog from its home just because of a small clause in a contract, show that even if Ellen would have said anything previously they would have been extremely mean about it. I mean all it should take is a little communication and the adoption papers or whatever put in the name of the new owners. And whats up with an adoption place when they care more about the regulations of their rules then having a pet find a nice and loving home?

[celerydunk]

I think if those organizations are going to be viable, it's much more important that they treat human beings well too and not be so overzealous. Afterall, people have a lot of options for getting pets, including going to their local pet store and getting something raised in a mill; don't they want adoption to be the more appealing option?

I so agree with this. Im not even going to get into the nastiness I encountered when I tried to adopt a pet. Sometimes I think they are so busy playing dictator, they forget the animals they are trying to help.

I understand that they have rules but I cant imagine they couldnt have worked with the hairdresser.