Son of Lassie's Trainer: Give the Dog Back!

76. This was handled wrong all the Way around...
First Ellen Did not sign any contract..
Her Girlfriend Portia de Rossi went in and Signed it.. Ellen did not know herself about the
Clause Saying she could not give the Dog away.
Second the Rescue people made the Contract Null and Void anyway because they did not live up to there end.. They did not have Ellen or Portia de Rossi fill out any forms or do any Screening of them.. Yet they Scream at them for Breach of Contract!!! How ludicrious!!!!
Then they say they did not want the dog in a house with young children..
Stupid as Well.. These kids were not Toddlers.. They know how to care for a Dog..
And would more than likely pay more attention to it than adults..
I just think the Shelter Wanted Celebrities to have the Dog..

Posted at 9:31PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Connu

77. The rule against children seems harsh (even cruel), but it's to protect the children and dogs. Children don't understand dog behavior and accidental or intentional injuries can happen to either one. If something happens, the rescue could be held accountable. Homes with children are often busy, dogs require a lot of time, effort and energy. They can't be brushed aside until work, school, soccer practice, etc are over. The dog needs care, convenient or not. Also, some breeds are not suited to children...for various reasons depending on the breed. This dog, Iggy, is of one such breed. They're a bit fragile, sensitive and do best with adults. That doesn't mean it can't work with a child, but so rarely it's not recommended. There are many reasons, all well intended.

Posted at 9:33PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Me

78. When you adopt from many agencies or rescue groups, their contracts stipulate if anything happens, the pet goes back to the adoption agency. If you sign it, you now must honor the contract

On the other hand, too many rescues/ agencies have too many requirements, it's no wonder there's so homeless animals. I've known people turned down from adopting 2 cats with special needs, not because of money (no object) but because they both work full time. They were older cats & sleep 16 hours/day!

Rejecting potential families & homes only makes people look elsewhere -- places that obtain animals from breeders. So do these adoption agencies actually help create the problem they want to solve?

Posted at 8:16PM on Oct 18th 2007 by Blue Montana Skies

79. cute dog!!☆

Posted at 9:44PM on Oct 17th 2007 by kazuhiro , age 40 , japan

80. First of all, Iggy is safe. Whoever is spreading rumors that they dog was destroyed is an insidious coward. The dog is in a good home - it probably does not even remember Ellen's hairdressing or her snaggle-faced daughter - it is fine. This has now become about Ellen, her pride, and her need for pity and attention. She is a rich celebrity. Stop feeling bad for her. She bullies her staff and all around her - she is not a nice person. People who rescue dogs may be a bit nutty and fanatical, but most have the dogs interests at heart. To all those people who think a rescue's standards are too high, go to the pound and use some other option. If people spend the time and money saving a dog, they have a right to say where it goes. The rescue in question is not a "shelter," it is a rescue. The government does not run it. It is run by people who donate their time and money and, one hopes, ensure that the dog will not be killed, as they can be at the pound. There are certainly rescuers who are too extreme, and every now and then a "hoarder" will be raided by the authorities, but most of them are good-hearted people. Ellen keeps on talking about the issue, and obviously people listen since she is famous. And shame on TMZ for being so biased in her favor. Remember how she hated the press when she and Anne broke up? Had TMZ been around then, they wouldn't have such a happy relationship with her. I hope her cats crawl on her face in the middle of the night and suck out her soul. Oh wait, she doesn't have one!!!

Posted at 9:46PM on Oct 17th 2007 by ELLEN SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED

81. Let this be a lesson to the wise: Get your prospective dog (or cat) from the pound. There won't be some Nazi after you... I also think this is very sad for those children who bonded to Ziggy-or is it Iggy??)

Posted at 10:03PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Jaye

82. I just remembered: my brother and I met Jon Provost who was one of the young actors that played Timmy in Lassie.
We had a picture taken with Jon and he was very nice...

Posted at 10:06PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Jaye

83. rescues have to have certain licenses and also file proper paperwork to be non profits

Posted at 10:23PM on Oct 17th 2007 by crymeariver

84. For Ellen Should be embrassed comment: Obvisously, you are the person loves to give the people the bad names!! How hell do you know if Ellen bullies her staff and the other people all around? Do you know her personally?? Prove it to us! DONT DARE CALL THE GIRLS THE NAME ( SNAGGLE-FACED) Maybe you shall join Don Imus to make new names for white girls. it is not about celebrity, it the way Mutts and Moms treated the girls with the cops there in my opinion, it is not professional way. My local Humane Society woman told me that it is really embrassing to them and is worried other people would not take them seriously.

Posted at 10:12PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Julie G.

85. Thank you Bob for supporting this family, and thank you Ellen for bringing it to public attention. GIVE THE DOG BACK!

Posted at 10:27PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Lydia Layne

86. Not allowing the family to have the "small dog" because there are children under the age of 14 is bull. We recently adopted a miniature Rat Terrier/Maltese mix from the local animal shelter (considered a "small dog") and I have a 8 year old and a 10 year old and our dog is wonderful with the kids, and vice versa. In fact I bring him to the bus stop every morning and afternoon where he is surrounded by elementary and middle school age children and he loves them and they love him. And ALL the kids are under 14!

I just don't understand their so called "logic" in taking that dog away.

We have adopted two dogs and five cats from animal shelters in the past 11 years. I personally know the people at our local shelter. in fact my kids volunteer there! They let them walk the dogs and socialize the cats (as long as I'm with them). They are MORE THEN HAPPY to let animals go to good, loving homes where they will be cared for. The only time children come into play is if the dog has shown to be aggressive with children or if it's a large breed dog who have aggressive tendencies. I HIGHLY DOUBT the little pooch in question here has those tendencies.

I just think this chick wants her "15 minutes of fame". She doesn't give a hoot about that dog. As far as everyone is concerned he DID have a good loving home!

Off my soap box now.....

Posted at 10:45PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Kimberly

87. I think the point here is that this organization felt violated becasue their contract was not followed and I do thnk most rescue groups, shelters, Humane societies, etc. have the same policies for good reasons. If everyone placed animals that did not work out without agency/organization oversight then a situation could develop where an animal was given away and ended up being neglected ot abused. However, in this particular situation, and not because of Ellen ( or anyone else's celebrity) , but because of the puppy, the children and an "honest" mistake due to an apparent lack of communication with her partner, Portia, regarding the contract rules, the organization should have evaluated the home, and assuming they found it and the new owners suitable, allowed these people to keep the dog. They could have fined Ellen for breaking a contractr which would have resulted in money for the animals and a lesson for Ellen re: adoption of animals and contracts as well. When millions of homeless animals are euthanized monthly making people upset aboput and blocking their way to open their hearts, homes and wallets to these animals is unconscionable!!

Posted at 11:04PM on Oct 17th 2007 by janiemargiek

88. Most of the placement agencies that I have seen are made up of opportunists who set the standard so high on adoption that they end up not re-homing most dogs placed in their care in order to solicit continued donations from the community to line their own pockets. It is a scam playing at the heart strings of concern animal lovers. If their number one priority as their non-profit charter states is to find loving and safe homes for dogs in need, then they would not have removed this dog. I will be this "agency" has had quit a bit of new donations of cash come into their offices over this issue too.

Posted at 10:46PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Chuck P.

89. One last note, speaking to an attorney friend of mine, the police officers in this matter could be held liable for interfering in a civil dispute that would've best been handled in a court with a court order not Joe Cop showing up at the door saying, "Give me the dog back. These people claim it to belong to them." This is a matter of contract law that should be settled in court not by a street beat cop.

Posted at 10:49PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Chuck P.

90. Ellen cried when I tried to play with her cats too.

Posted at 10:53PM on Oct 17th 2007 by The dog formerly known as Iggy