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Ellen's Doggone Nightmare

Talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres is caught in the middle of a doggy tug of war that has left an innocent girl in tears.
Ellen dog exclusive
Ellen and her girlfriend, Portia de Rossi, adopted Iggy (a Brussels Griffon mix) from Mutts and Moms, a dog adoption agency. But things didn't work out as Ellen planned -- her cats didn't get along with Iggy -- so she gave the pooch to her hairdresser, who has two kids, including 12-year-old Ruby.

Last night, a rep from the agency came to the hairdresser's home, claiming Ellen violated the contract by not informing the agency of the hand-off. The rep demanded to take the dog away. Ellen' s position -- yeah, she should have notified the agency, but she found a loving home and isn't that what counts? The agency rep stuck to her guns and removed the dog with cops present. Ruby is heartbroken; reduced to tears.

Ellen says, "I kept saying, 'If you want to be mad at me, be mad at me, but don't take it out on the family. Don't take it out on the dog.'"

TMZ has video of the confrontation at the hairdresser's home, as well as interviews with Ellen, Portia and little Ruby. You can watch the full story tonight on TMZ TV.



The Britney Spears Coffee and Gas Roundup


Britney Spears: Click to watchBrit was up to her usual tiresome tricks this weekend -- you'll never guess where she went!

Ding ding dang! If you said gas stations and Starbucks with her paparazzi entourage in tow -- you've won!

TMZ caught Spears in Malibu on Friday at her favorite coffee shop, where a chef from a Country Mart restaurant shouted, "Run 'em all over!" to Brit as she rolled up. She then hightailed it to a gas station, where she decided to read "The Chronicles of Narnia" as a photog pumped her gas. I's edumacated, y'all!

Britney hot -- click to launchBrit also stopped into a salon and was blinded by flashes on her way out -- once again shouting, "So over it!" ... but later asking for someone's hand to help guide her to the car. She even proved she still can sing, giving an operatic note before driving off.

Brit's Saturday was no less paparazzi-filled, with the popwreck sending a photog into Virgin Records in Hollywood to pick up a Justin Timberlake CD while she waited in her car.

All this and more in today's "Gimme More CS Lewis" edition of Spears Catcher.

Orlando the Hero? Puh-lease!


orlando goes off - click to play Orlando Bloom's reps are spinning his bad behavior following a serious car accident in the most ridiculous way we've seen in a long time.

Bloom was behind the wheel early Friday morning when his vehicle struck a parked Porsche, seriously injuring one of his passengers. Bloom's reaction -- he walked away from the car and his badly hurt passenger. Video from X17 tells the story -- paparazzi have to repeatedly tell Bloom that walking away constitutes hit and run. When it finally sinks in, Bloom walks back and pretends to be a hero, comforting the woman.

A statement released by Bloom's people on Friday said the star was "grateful that no one was seriously injured." We're no medical experts, but we'd call the FRACTURED NECK sustained by his friend, Cher Coulter, pretty serious.

And the cops are saying that Bloom was not drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident -- but they didn't conduct a blood alcohol test at the scene and none was ever given because, they say, because Orlando showed no signs of intoxication.

Was Orlando drinking? Watch him go off on a guy outside a club, minutes before the crash, and then decide for yourself.



T.I. Busted for Allegedly Buying Weapons


T.I. TMZ has obtained the affidavit and search warrant issued by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after T.I. allegedly had his bodyguard buy illegal machine guns and silencers for him.

Since T.I. is a convicted felon, he can't legally buy firearms, so, according to the ATF, he used his bodyguard to purchase them for him and members of his entourage. According to the affidavit, the bodyguard admitted to buying nine firearms for T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) and approximately 17 other firearms for people other than Harris.

He was charged with two felonies -- possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. A source told MediaTakeOut.com that "[The bodyguard] asked T.I. for an advance on his [pay] and T.I. gave it to him. ...Whatever he spent money on -- whether it be guns, drugs, or formula for his children -- T.I. had nothing to do with it."

TMZ spoke with Chevrolet this morning, which features the rapper in one of its biggest ad campaigns. When asked whether they planned to drop him as a spokesman, a rep for the automaker only said they are "reviewing the situation."

If Chevy does indeed drop him, there's always Smith & Wesson!

UPDATE: This afternoon, the ATF showcased the guns seized in the case (pictured below).

guns seized in T.I. case




Tags: britney spears, BritneySpears, dog, Ellen, Orlando Bloom, OrlandoBloom, T.I.

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Reader Comments

(Page 21 of 22) Previous 15 Comments | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

301. I am the President of a Animal Rescue and I can tell you that Ellen was wrong but there are ways that it could have been handled. The way that we would have handled it would be to start over and give the people a chance to adopt the little dog but they would have to follow the same steps and sign the same contract as Ellen did. The dog has been rescued once and the adoption agency has made a commitment to this liitle dog and its up to the agency to decide if the home is fit for the dog or not. Just because you are a celebrity doesn't mean that you are fit to be a pet owner not does it mean that you are in the position to make decisions on where a dog that you adopt should go when the pet is no longer in your care. That is the decision that only the agency can make legally. Our rescue checks vet references to make sure that there is a vet in place for the animal to see. Also to show that the people have been positive, loving and caring pet owners. A home visit is done, a interview with the family is done and a waiting period of about two days is required. The agency should give the family a chance to adopt this little dog since so many emotions are involved but as a fellow rescuer, I would be very upset to find out that someone did this to a animal that I rescued, took care of. I would want to know where this animal is and would have the right to know. Just like a child, you can't give your adopted child to a new family if it doesn't work out. The child would have to be turned back over to the agency and the agency decide where the child goes from there.
It's not easy in this business and rescuers take their job very seriously and most are like me and do not get paid a dime for it. Animals have no voice so they rely on humans to take charge of them and care for their well being. The agency in question should however allow the new family that Ellen placed the dog with to fill out an application and go through the adoption procedure just like anyone else would have to do.

Posted at 9:28PM on Oct 15th 2007 by Sherry

302. This is nothing but stupid. The "pet social worker" is a nut. As long as the dog is adopted by a good family, who cares, IT"S A DOG, not a child!!!

Ellen has my total support. It was an oversight. The whole situation has been blow way out of proportion! It's like a tug of war between a child and an adult. Ellen just wants what's best for the new family and the "doggie social worker" is acting like a Nazi. It should never have been elevated to this level....do I smell a social worker looking for her leap for stardom on Jerry Springer!!!

Posted at 9:56PM on Oct 15th 2007 by SONDRA

303. This is really stupid, someone just tring to make the news and using Ellen to do it I think the dog should stay with the little girl,Once the agencey gave up the dog it should be none of their bussiness,as long as it's not being abused.

Posted at 9:46PM on Oct 15th 2007 by leslie7302

304. How is Britney up to her "usual tiresome tricks" by going to Starbucks, reading a paperback while getting gas and buying a CD? Isn't that the sort of things we all do every day? I am not a Britney fan, but honestly, how is this newsworthy?

Posted at 10:50PM on Oct 15th 2007 by Leslie

305. Those people at Mutts & Moms are crazy low-lifes. Why did they have to be so heavy handed by bringing in the police? What about the little girl? This crappy mess is going to stick in her psyche long after that poor dog has lived out its life no matter what happens to the dog. Sicko people. They just get dumber and dumber by the day.

Send them a note and tell them how you feel. And, pass on this contact information:

How to contact Mutts & Moms
Mailing address: PO Box 50393, Pasadena, CA 91115,
Email: pawboutique@yahoo.com
Website URL: www.muttsandmoms.com

Posted at 1:41AM on Oct 16th 2007 by Bobby G

306. Being a long time Orlando fan I can honestly say that there was something wrong with him in the video of him and the guy outside the bar, if you listen closely even his friends are upset with him and know he isn't acting right. I hope something is done and shows him to be the real person he is. His fans are blinded by his good looks, its about time something catches up with him. Also this isn't the first time he has tried to flee the scene of an accident, he hit a man on a scooter in the UK last year and tried to get away. His driving has always been bad Cameron Crowe said when driving with Orlando during filming of Elizabethtown he was afraid for his life.
His cousin claims he never drinks which is a lie people have seen him personally drinking alcohol not to mention other things he dabbles in. Orlando Bloom is a PR golden boy the real Orlando is selfish and will do anything to be famous. His whole imagine is built on lies. I feel bad for his fans but I hope he comes crashing down so we can see what he is really like.

Posted at 1:10PM on Oct 16th 2007 by XBloomfan

307. I think that the dog agency saw an oportunnity to re-sell the dog for a higher price because of it's previous owners name. Nothing more.

Posted at 6:01PM on Oct 18th 2007 by Glenn

308. RE: Ellen & dog.
Ellen, like anyone else, should honor her dog adoption contract. If she had done the right thing and contacted the adoption agency, the agency would have worked with the family who wanted the dog to be sure the new home met their requirements. Ellen is not qualified to decide what was a "good home" since she obviously didn't provide one for the dog.

Posted at 9:57AM on Oct 16th 2007 by Cassandra

309. I found very rude of TMZ to coment about Jessica Alba and her Pug... "Big brown eyes" and when it came to Tory Spelling and Miss Mimi LaRue "Pug ugly" shame on you TMZ what a lack of respect on your side, as a Pug owner myself I commend Tory for all her good care and loyalty to her aging pet, Pugs are very hard pets to care for and trust me expensive as well.
Now be nice people and apologize to Tory Spelling for such an ugly and rude remark.

Posted at 11:47AM on Oct 16th 2007 by Isabel Capdeville

310. This is infuriating. Not only did this agency take the pet away when they could have been humane and simply interviewed the new owners on the spot and released the dog to them. They are now not available online, so people can't reach them to address the issue!

I don't think this is an agency people ought to adopt from any more. Their policy is sane, but they need to have contingency policies, so that pets who are well placed with loving owners don't have to go through the trauma of being taken away. That dog is probably terrified right now. And, you know, at a time like this when so many other awful things are happening in the world, it's really sad and disgusting that a supposedly loving service like this would put more pain out there.

Shame on Mutts and Moms! Give Iggy back!

Posted at 3:39PM on Oct 16th 2007 by Steph

311. Sorry, Ellen, you're wrong on this one. Agencies don't want dogs passed around like leftovers, and need to check out the new home to make sure the conditions work for the dog, and that the home is reliable and safe. A phone call probably would have done the trick -- what should the agency do? Let it slide because you're a celebrity?

Remember, Mutts and Moms doesn't have the cache of celebrity, or a TV show to use to press their case. They just get to work with unwanted dogs, cleaning them up, saving them from euthanasia, assessing their needs, and making them ready for loving homes -- from now on probably not for celebrities that think contracts and rules don't apply to them, and don't mind hauling out the teary eyed children to manipulate the public and lay on the guilt.

Shame on you.

Posted at 3:42PM on Oct 16th 2007 by Bindi Blue

312. Sorry, 305, but Mutts & Moms is wrong about this.

Should Ellen have read the contract better? Yes. Should Mutts & Moms brought in the cops? Hell no.

There are ways M&M could have compromised with all parties, including doing a home study while the new family or Ellen kept the dog, things that have nothing to do with Ellen's celebrity. The "rescue" outfit could have offered a compromise they would have offered anyone else in similar situations. Instead, they brought in the police and ripped the dog out of a home with children that bonded with the animal. They could have done a number of other things while reminding Ellen of the contractual obligation she entered into.

***Just because you have the law on your side doesn't mean you have to enforce it every damn time. It's called using common sense.***

Shame on THEM at Mutts & Moms for displaying no compassion and no heart, for not compromising in a way that wouldn't have ended badly for all parties, and for ripping a dog out of a loving house without considering that there are other ways to make this end happily.

And the lesson here: maybe one ought to reconsider ever using "rescue organizations" to get a pet for your house. Consider other alternatives, such as an ASPCA or Humane Society organization that would be much more flexible in this type of situation.

Posted at 6:30PM on Oct 16th 2007 by Toni

313. As a former volunteer firefighter who may have been the cause to have fire-rescue units equipped with SCABA (Breathing Equipment) for animals and a devoted animal lover, I am very deeply apolled with this. Ellen did a kind and great thing by giving a child a puppy that she originally got for herself but found out she had a problem with her friend and their cats so she gave the puppy to a child. Now this suppose to be group that is suppose to give puppies good homes takes the dog away with force (requiring police presents). Now I see why people who moved from the LA area have stated they hate the LA Police. The police should have arrested the people of Mutts & Moms. Maybe the ASPCA should step in. Maybe ther ASPCA Police in NYC espeacilly Special Investigator Ann Marie Luccus should get into this. MUTTS & MOMS give the puppy back to the child

Posted at 1:25AM on Oct 18th 2007 by South Florida Fireman

314. Shame on Mutts and Moms. That woman who has turned this into a me against those rich celebrities ought to take a moment to remember WHY she wants to rescue dogs....to give them a good home. This whole thing is rediculous. Poor Iggy. It makes me sad.
:o(

Posted at 6:16PM on Oct 17th 2007 by itsumama47

315. http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeIggy/petition.html

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION TO RETURN IGGY TO THE GIRLS' FAMILY!!

If for nothing else, just to let Mutts & Moms know how many are opposed to their decision...

Posted at 10:09AM on Oct 17th 2007 by maus_shadow

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