Ellen Degeneres under fire for giving away dog

[Olivia77]

This woman has taken rescues all over the country and given them a black eye. I bet there is a serious drop in people adopting from them now.

I just had a long post typed out, but you phrased my thoughts more succinctly than I did.

It sickens me to think that people may use this as an excuse not to adopt and instead turn to pet stores which perpetuate an industry of cruelty. Sure, there are channels to go through when adopting and it takes a little longer than the instant gratification of getting a pup immediately - I had to wait three months to adopt my rescue chihuahua LuLu. However, instant gratification and getting a pet shouldn't even be in the same sentence. Go to a pound after Christmas and look at all the dogs who have been given up when their cute puppy stage wore off. Or, all the dogs who have been given up because someone moved, had a baby, etc. It's sickening.

RE: pet stores, please think twice before buying from one. If your pet store tells you that their dogs have come from a reputable breeder, they are lying. If no one bought from a pet store those puppies would go to foster homes until they were adopted out and then puppymills would cease to exist and millions of animals would be spared the horrors of living and dying a painful and sick death in a mill.

http://stoppuppymills.org/

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

http://www.nopuppymills.com/

 

[calus_3]

WOW, I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

What I want to know is how a lesbian woman, in today's world, was ever allowed to adopt an animal. What is the world coming to?

Cal

 

[SadieMae]

This woman has taken rescues all over the country and given them a black eye. I bet there is a serious drop in people adopting from them now.

I agree it may...people not familiar with rescies will think they all act like this woman and it's not worth the trouble to adopt. We have rules, but we use them as a guideline. They're not set in stone, and we use common sense when placing an animal. One rule is dogs are placed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area...yet dogs have been placed in Killeen ,Austin, San Antonio, and Louisiana to good families. 3 adopters moved out of state to NY, MI and FL....we're not about to take their dogs back because they're no longer in the state. We don't have the time or people to constantly check on adopted dogs, we have too many others that need good homes. That's where the time is spent. The adopted ones are ALREADY in good homes, so mission accomplished. If more people are made aware that not all rescues operate like this woman's the one's like hers will get their acts together or people will not adopt from them. There are some really good ones out there. Reading other stories of adoptions makes me feel lucky I've dealt with the good ones.

 

[catsmeow]

Just a thought, but the lady gets a second adoption fee. I know about a group of people who go out and get pedigree dogs from the pounds. Adopt them and then sell them for 200.00 (they pay 50). After they resuce the dog, they call the local rescues to have them find the homes or get them to pay thier "fees". Just makes me angry!

There's several posts that I actually wanted to reply to but I figured I'd start with this. Hi Mystic. Most breed specific rescues are like this, they do get the specific breed and breed mixes from the shelters. The BIG difference is that you will get your dog fully vetted and spayed/neutered and usually it has been living in a foster home and will also come with some basic training like being house trained. They will also be able to tell you whether or not it is good with other dogs/cats/kids and many other things that you would not otherwise know adopting straight from the shelter. So there ARE many great things that come with adopting from the rescue. Let me state again, if you are getting the dog from the rescue, it should come fully vetted and already spayed/neutered. From there it is your resposibility to begin the dog on the heartworm program and such.
=============
As for the days of giving puppies away and stuff, never been a fan of that. That's the kind of stuff that perpetuates our animal overpopulation and that is the kind of thinking, IMO. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences at shelters and for anyone that finds filling out some paperwork cumbersome. I don't quite understand that but to each his own, I'm happy that you have great pets and I'm sure that they are in great homes. However, these pet shops only continue to feed the puppy mill problems. Ellen had a bad experience and this whole thing was a big fiasco, rescues and shelters all over should not suffer because of it.
There are animals all over the country in need of homes, special needs ones too, some blind-deaf-burnt-missing a tail, some paperwork is not out of the question.

No offense meant or intended.

 

[BOESP]

I just had a long post typed out, but you phrased my thoughts more succinctly than I did.

It sickens me to think that people may use this as an excuse not to adopt and instead turn to pet stores which perpetue an industry of cruelty. Sure, there are channels to go through when adopting and it takes a little longer than the instant gratification of getting a pup immediately - I had to wait three months to adopt my rescue chihuahua LuLu. However, instant gratification and getting a pet shouldn't even be in the same sentence. Go to a pound after Christmas and look at all the dogs who have been given up when their cute puppy stage wore off. Or, all the dogs who have been given up because someone moved, had a baby, etc. It's sickening.

RE: pet stores, please think twice before buying from one. If your pet store tells you that their dogs have come from a reputable breeder, they are lying. If no one bought from a pet store those puppies would go to foster homes until they were adopted out and then puppymills would cease to exist and millions of animals would be spared the horrors of living and dying a painful and sick death in a mill.

http://stoppuppymills.org/

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

http://www.nopuppymills.com/

Thank you, Olivia. You bring up some side issues that many may not know about.

I don't know Ellen or the lady with the rescue service. I do see lots of speculation on this board about the rescue lady, some of which might be true and none of which may be true but the fact remains Ellen didn't live up to her contract and she wants to be excused from that. Mistake or not, she's asking for special treatment because of a mistake she made.

 

[teedie2]

Regarding the chip, might be that the rescue places don't change the chip immediately in case the adoption doesn't work out. Sort of like having to wait for a final order of adoption. Once the chip is changed, what recourse does the rescue have if the terms of the contract aren't honored?

Ellen is in the entertainment business and she has had plenty of experience with contracts.

There's nothing I love more than a loving kid with a loving pet. Celebrities who think that exceptions should be made for them are pretty near at the top of my "don't love" list.

 

[BOESP]

...
There's nothing I love more than a loving kid with a loving pet. Celebrities who think that exceptions should be made for them are pretty near at the top of my "don't love" list.

Wish I'd said that.

 

[Mysticchic]

My Mom heads a rescue for Bearded Collies. The pound spays or neuters the animals as soon as they get them. Then this woman goes and gets them for 50.00 (they are vet checked at the pound). She then sells the dogs off for 200+ dollars (she has a pet salon). She called my mom about a bearde that she had saved. My Moms rescue club was willing to pay her 200.00. Then suddenly the dog was missing. Turns out she sold that dog for 400.00. With my Mom's rescue depending on the attention needed they only charge a 100-200 fee.

 

[teedie2]

Wish I'd said that.

Feel free.

 

[Kellee]

Ellen did breach her contract with the rescue. Intentionally or not.

The rescue, on the other hand, had the option of doing what was right for the dog! They could have evaluated the home of the hairdresser. They did have the power to bend their 'no adoptions to homes with children under 14' rule. They had the option to determine the appropriateness of the placement BEFORE they removed the dog.

The quick adoption of the dog into yet another home does not suggest to me that the rescue seriously considered the best placement for the dog. Is it really right for the dog to have 3 or 4 different homes in a matter of a couple of months? It appears to me that the rescue was acting in a punishing, i'm-in-control sort of way.

 

[SadieMae]

Our rescue does not change chip information. The chip keeps the rescue's information. If the lost dog is found we contact the owners. In any case we've had of a lost dog...the owners have called/emailed us first to say the dog is missing. An email goes out surrounding shelters. When the dog is located a volunteer will pick the dog up for the owners with no consquences, we're just happy it was found safe. Even our OWN dogs occasionally escape, so it's no biggie and not a reason to keep the dog from them. We're just thankful they can get back home.

ITA Olivia about pet store puppies...the conditions they come from are heartbreaking. As long as they sell, back yard breeders and mills will make more. Anyone who is not a reputable breeder needs to have their pets spayed/neutered. It's healthier for the animal and could extend their lives also. We have 2 females from a backyard breeder in rescue now...they are not pretty dogs to look at because they have been overbred. They are needing a lot of work to socialize them too, because had never been shown human affection, and that's very sad.

 

[reportertype]

I just had a long post typed out, but you phrased my thoughts more succinctly than I did.

It sickens me to think that people may use this as an excuse not to adopt and instead turn to pet stores which perpetuate an industry of cruelty. Sure, there are channels to go through when adopting and it takes a little longer than the instant gratification of getting a pup immediately - I had to wait three months to adopt my rescue chihuahua LuLu. However, instant gratification and getting a pet shouldn't even be in the same sentence. Go to a pound after Christmas and look at all the dogs who have been given up when their cute puppy stage wore off. Or, all the dogs who have been given up because someone moved, had a baby, etc. It's sickening.

RE: pet stores, please think twice before buying from one. If your pet store tells you that their dogs have come from a reputable breeder, they are lying. If no one bought from a pet store those puppies would go to foster homes until they were adopted out and then puppymills would cease to exist and millions of animals would be spared the horrors of living and dying a painful and sick death in a mill.

http://stoppuppymills.org/

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

http://www.nopuppymills.com/

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[SuziQ]

There's several posts that I actually wanted to reply to but I figured I'd start with this. Hi Mystic. Most breed specific rescues are like this, they do get the specific breed and breed mixes from the shelters. The BIG difference is that you will get your dog fully vetted and spayed/neutered and usually it has been living in a foster home and will also come with some basic training like being house trained. They will also be able to tell you whether or not it is good with other dogs/cats/kids and many other things that you would not otherwise know adopting straight from the shelter. So there ARE many great things that come with adopting from the rescue. Let me state again, if you are getting the dog from the rescue, it should come fully vetted and already spayed/neutered. From there it is your resposibility to begin the dog on the heartworm program and such.
=============
As for the days of giving puppies away and stuff, never been a fan of that. That's the kind of stuff that perpetuates our animal overpopulation and that is the kind of thinking, IMO. I am sorry for those that have had bad experiences at shelters and for anyone that finds filling out some paperwork cumbersome. I don't quite understand that but to each his own, I'm happy that you have great pets and I'm sure that they are in great homes. However, these pet shops only continue to feed the puppy mill problems. Ellen had a bad experience and this whole thing was a big fiasco, rescues and shelters all over should not suffer because of it.
There are animals all over the country in need of homes, special needs ones too, some blind-deaf-burnt-missing a tail, some paperwork is not out of the question.

No offense meant or intended.

The rescue Ellen used did not spay/neuter or train Iggy.

It's not just "some paperwork". It's paperwork, homecheck, food requirements, and continued control over the dog after it's been adopted out for sometimes as much as 1000.00.

These types of animals are used for fundraising purposes as their cases tug at heartstrings. Curious that some of these animals, if they existed to begin with, are still being fostered and never adopted out after months or years. I have contacted several rescues by phone and email regarding adoption of some of these hard luck cases and have never gotten a response back. I'm sure they would have taken a donation though.

 

[SuziQ]

And to everyone who wants to "think" or insinuate Ellen is using or taking advantage of her celebrity status in this case, consider this. How many common folk have been screwed over by so called rescue agencies and don't have the legal power, money or status to fight back? At least Ellen has that option and I don't begrudge her for it one d*mned bit. She's at least brought a huge problem to the surface.

 

[SadieMae]

I thank you too Olivia for the links. I've seen the videos before and puppy mills first hand. Many do not have a clue where their puppy came from and what they are supporting. A reputable breeder's puppies will NEVER be sold in a pet store. They don't things that way. And if the puppy you want is NOT show quality the breeder will have the pup neutered/spayed before you get it. Because his/her reputation as a breeder follows that bloodline, and they have worked hard to produce QUALITY dogs. Petstore dogs do NOT come from loving responsible breeders and they're not even neutered/spayed when they're bought, how resposible is that? Pet stores do not care where they came from and they don't care what happens to them later.

If people are not into adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue, then please buy your puppy from a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder will not have litters of pups available ALL the time. That's a back yard breeder who not any better than a puppy mill.

 

[philamena]

:clap: I totally agree!

Me too!

 

[IrishMist]

And to everyone who wants to "think" or insinuate Ellen is using or taking advantage of her celebrity status in this case, consider this. How many common folk have been screwed over by so called rescue agencies and don't have the legal power, money or status to fight back? At least Ellen has that option and I don't begrudge her for it one d*mned bit. She's at least brought a huge problem to the surface.

I agree, SuziQ, and well said! :clap:

 

[SadieMae]

The rescue Ellen used did not spay/neuter or train Iggy.

It's not just "some paperwork". It's paperwork, homecheck, food requirements, and continued control over the dog after it's been adopted out for sometimes as much as 1000.00.

These types of animals are used for fundraising purposes as their cases tug at heartstrings. Curious that some of these animals, if they existed to begin with, are still being fostered and never adopted out after months or years. I have contacted several rescues by phone and email regarding adoption of some of these hard luck cases and have never gotten a response back. I'm sure they would have taken a donation though.

That's with some rescues. No one should be spending $1,000 for a rescue! That's ridiculous IMO. Not already spaying and neutering the dogs says a lot about the "rescue". I can see a city shelter not doing this and requiring the owner to get it done. Rescues are supposed to promote responsible pet ownership...spaying/neutering/shots is being a responsible owner. A good rescue will have all this done to ensure you are adopting a healthy pet. To "require" what food should be fed is silly! Rescues exist because of pet overpopulation...yet this one adopts out dogs not spayed/neutered...WTH!!! :furious:

Before adopting from a rescue find out how they operate, are they non profit, what do they do to raise money, how do they house the foster dogs, where/how do they get their dogs, do they have vet references, do they just sit and wait for donations, will they give you names to contact previous adopters, how quick is their response time when you contact them, what training do the dogs get and how do they evaluate the dogs. A good rescue is not in it to make money and usually run in the red. If they don't give you answers you're comfortable with...WALK AWAY! It's not going to be worth dealing with them.

 

[Olivia77]

The rescue Ellen used did not spay/neuter or train Iggy.

It's not just "some paperwork". It's paperwork, homecheck, food requirements, and continued control over the dog after it's been adopted out for sometimes as much as 1000.00.

These types of animals are used for fundraising purposes as their cases tug at heartstrings. Curious that some of these animals, if they existed to begin with, are still being fostered and never adopted out after months or years. I have contacted several rescues by phone and email regarding adoption of some of these hard luck cases and have never gotten a response back. I'm sure they would have taken a donation though.

Sounds like you have had some terrible experiences with rescues. I've worked in animal rescue for over 10 years and I've met some nuts, but I have yet to experience this super shady type of rescue you speak of that charges $1k to adopt a dog (if you have a link to any of those places I'd be interested in seeing their sites). Yes, they are out there just like in any other non-profit sector, but most I have worked with and seen just want to find an animal a good home.

The two I currently work with require:

an application
a home visit
an adoption fee between $75-$250 (which is nothing considering some of the "work" they put into these dogs - LuLu had luxating patella surgery which cost the organization around $1k per knee, and her adoption fee was $200)

Anyway, I don't think any of those things are unreasonable considering a LOT of people these days are willing to relinquish a pet at the drop of a hat.

This woman's organizations sounds like it was one of the questionable ones out there, but rescues as a whole don't deserve a blanket scarlet letter because of a few bad apples. Sure this brought some issues to the surface, but how about 3 million pets killed each year because there aren't enough homes, or all of the pet store dogs that are sick and overbred all of which create the NEED for rescues. Instead now rescues themselves are getting bashed which saddens me.

 

[BOESP]

When they didn't change the chip into Ellen's name...they breached their own contract.

Could you post a link to the contract. I'd like to read it and see what was actually agreed to by both parties. TIA