Access Blogs
"Iggy Gate" Day Two
There has been more debate over Ellen DeGeneres' adopted dog than the last well… Presidential debate. Not since Old Yeller or Rin Tin Tin has a dog become this famous. The media has even decided to coin a silly name for the controversy, "Iggy Gate."
Americans sure do love a good juicy Hollywood tale… actually make that "tail" -- the battle just keeps getting uglier and uglier and little Iggy is caught in the middle. I've now heard both sides of the story and can honestly say I'm confused. I'm not sure who to side with on this one.
Marina Baktis, the owner of "Mutts and Moms," told Access Hollywood she was getting death threats from all of this and she was scared for her safety and the safety of her dogs. If you've watched the video of her interview on our Web site you see her get emotional when she gets out of her car.
The question is -- just how genuine is this woman? Her tears do seem a little forced when you compare them to Ellen's breakdown yesterday. She also stood out in front of the camera crews holding one of her rescue dogs, Winky, who only has one eye and needs a new home. It seems like a lapse in judgment to me. I'm glad she finally spoke out and told her side of the story but don't then turn it into an advertisement.
The fact is, though, that Ellen and Portia breached the adoption contract by not returning the dog to the agency when they realized they couldn't keep it. The agency flexed its right to remove the dog from the new home Ellen had found for Iggy. I don't agree with how the agency went about this, but I do agree that they had the right to evaluate the family before Iggy was given to them permanently. The matter should have been handled privately and not through the media. Personal feelings should have been put aside out of respect for the dog. It was Ellen, and not Marina, who chose to play this out in the media (once the dog was taken back) -- it was never Marina's choice to play it out publically.
Because of Ellen's celebrity status and legions of fans, the majority of people are siding with her. I believe Ellen thought she was taking a stand and was motivated by friendship and love for the family, but ultimately, all it did was hurt the reputation of a rescue agency that is trying to do good work.
I wondered yesterday if this had something to do with financial gains since re-adopting the dog would mean a separate donation fee. I no longer believe this is the case. I believe it comes down to two factors: Marina is angry that as a celebrity, Ellen gets preferential treatment (which she basically told us) and Marina wants what's best for the animals in her care.
Unfortunately, because of Marina's anger and how the situation has been handled, the dog has now been found another home. So, Ellen has lost this battle.
My biggest hope is all this doggie drama will bring attention to the plight of dogs who are in need of good homes. I really think this statement from Besty Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com [which Mutts and Moms is a member of], says it all:
“This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved,” Saul said.
On at least two ocassions, Ellen has breached the contract regarding her 'rescued' animals. She adopted cats from Kitten Rescue and gave them away. Unfortunately, KR did not retrieve the cats. Ellen is not above the contracts that she signed. The clause is in place to ensure the safety of their animals.
Ellen should of went about this a different way. She played the media card and ruined people's lives. I shop at the store owned by Marina. Marina and Vanessa are really good people and they care a lot about the animals. They had the best interest of the animal when they decided to take Iggy away.
In all my 54 years I have heard many foolish and heartless things. However, this takes the cake. Maybe Ellen made a mistake, but two wrongs do NOT make a wright, and what Mutts and Moms did was way more wrong and heartless. It also smells of plain old money greed. In short, the dog belongs with the family Ellen gave it to. And Marina needs to get a good sound spanking for her behavior.
I'd like to comment on this Animal Rescue issue you've been addressing on from Ellen's show.
Let me be completely honest... It's utterly DESPICABLE!
1st: She signed a legal contract, just because she's a Hollywood star that doesn't make you above the law. And all animal shelters have this rule, it's there to protect the animals.
2nd: Allow the shelter to evaluate this new family and if they are worthy of taking care of the dog they will be able to keep it. Then Ellen can make a nice donation since she's so wealthy to take care of the trouble she's caused this shelter. Would she really miss a couple hundred thousand dollars?
3rd: It's ridiculous that instead of dealing with important issues on her show she discusses a personal problem with a small animal shelter. She and Access Hollywod should be discussing issues that matter in this world, like World Hunger, Problems in Iraq and how our soldiers are dying for a lost cause, the price of gas rising, or many other issues.
I honestly don't watch her show and guarantee I will NEVER watch it now or anything Ellen is part of.
I know this feedback will probably never make its way to Ellen, or onto either of your shows. However I felt it was best that I share my feedback rather than stay silent.
Sincerely,
Sylvain Bergeron
Think this lady who had the dog and that web page is just looking for publicity. Ellen had the right, I don't care what anyone says. She had the dog, cute little Iggy and sadly the cats and Iggy didn't get along. Ellen knew of a good home for the dog..Leave it be and tell this bozo of a dog adoption agency to get her life together..She just out for the publicity. Nothing more..It shows on the video..
My husband and I were lucky to get our two dogs from Marina's organization two years ago. I shop at her store all the time. I KNOW Marina and Vanessa put their blood, sweat and tears into saving dogs every day. And every day, they see countless examples of how stupid and cruel people can be to animals. They are truly most concerned with the dogs' well being. When we adopted our dogs, Marina went over the contract with us and explained all of the terms, including -- that if it didn't work out with the dogs for some reason, that we were to return them to her rescue. Marina does this because, again, she spends her blood, sweat, tears AND money on rescuing these dogs -- so she wants to ensure the dogs' safety and happiness once she finds them a home. Some people think that "they know someone who wants a dog" -- but sometimes those people turn out to be the folks who drop a dog off at the pound, leave it outside day and night, etc. That is why she is concerned about finding just the right home for her rescues. It is so sad to me to see what Ellen's public outcry has done to this genuine person, who has probably saved THOUSANDS of dogs from misery and death. The media is not even representing Marina's side. It's just sad and a shame.
Sylvain Bergeron,
This is Access HOLLYWOOD. Why on earth would they talk about world hunger on Access HOLLYWOOD? This is an entertainment show (as is Ellen's) - a show that people watch to get away from all that.
I have been working in the Pet world for over 20 years, and I thought that I had heard everything. But, then I hear this. Let the dog have a home ... yes there are a lot of dogs and cats looking for homes every day and no the problem is not people getting something they are not ready for its people not spaying or nuetering them. Yes, things also have to be about the point, well get over yourself and think of the dog for once miss I have no money for my shelter in my CHENNEL glasses and the vet you have working for you most that know dogs... thats at a disc... buck up and give them the dog and get on with life another one is just around the next corner that needs a home... Happy Styln' Connie Celenza
Marina stands there attempting to cry, in her Chanel eyeglasses screaming poverty???? LOL Lady, get a grip and do the RIGHT thing for the dog...forget Ellen, Portia and your own selfishness....the dog was loved by a warm family. She violated her own mission statement...could it be her ego is just a tad too large for her to be in this business? Ellen did more to promote HER rescue than the best PR person could have, and she BLEW it....she let her own needs and feelings come before that of the animals she claims to rescue. Poor little puppies....they deserve better than that. I will no longer donate to this organization. There are far more deserving out there.
Access Hollywood needs to stop perpetuating this ridiculous story. Let this rescue alone and stop showing the little girl in a staged interview. There are thousands of dogs needing homes. They had the dog for a few days. I bet the girls could fall in love with another one. Enough already.
I do understand both sides of this issue. I have rescued pets. They have rules, but I do believe once you have those pets in your care they have no right to tell you what you can do with those animals. Especially if you have passed their test and proved to be a good home for them. Surely they would know you would place the animal with people who would love it. What concerns me is the death threats that people are sending to that poor lady. Leave her alone. Also she now is being cruel by not allowing the family to get the dog back, all because one little girl is 12, that is a little stupid. Stop trying to be vengeful and Ellen shut up. Crying over it will not help. A lot of crazy people will take your tears to the extreme. Be an adult and handle it quietly. A lot of crazy people are in this world. Cease from crying and quietly get busy solving your problem.
The family had the chance to fill out an application but refused to do so. They didn't believe that the rescue would take the dog away. They didn't think that they had to follow the rules. And, Ellen's publicist called the rescue and threatened to ruin them in a media campaign before Ellen's staged tearfest. Just because Ellen thought it would be a good home doesn't mean it would be. I run a small rescue and about a month ago I adopted a dog to a lady who then gave her away. Well, the new home kept her outside and dog got bored and jumped the fence. It cost me several hundred dollars in vet bills and a lot of driving to get her back. And I was lucky that the new people even called me (which they did to avoid paying her vet bill). Ellen is teaching these children that they should have whatever they want and that if they don't get thier way they should cry and hurt others to get it. What a pitiful message to children.
Ellen - is there a difference between a contract signed at a pet adoption agency and a contract signed for a showbizness gig?
Where do you get off 'Ellen' flaunting your celebrity in trade for the demise of a pet adoption agency who before you took this up on your show was placing animals in need in good homes?
You have become a juvenile 'Ellen' and you are in desperate need of a maturity enema.