Has Ellen Stopped Crying Yet?

Unless you live under a rock, you've undoubtedly heard or read about Ellen DeGeneres's emotional breakdown on a recent episode of her show. Ellen and her partner, Portia di Rossi, had adopted a puppy named Iggy from Mutts and Moms, a rescue organization in Pasadena. Planning on providing the puppy with a wonderful home themselves, Ellen and her partner spent $3000 not only to have the dog neutered but also so the vet would take the puppy home so he wouldn't have to sleep at the animal hospital. When they discovered that the puppy would not be able to live comfortably with their cats, Ellen and Portia, decided to give Iggy to Ellen's hairdresser and her family.

At some point, the rescue organization, Mutts and Moms, telephoned DeGeneres to check on Iggy. Thinking she had done a good thing by finding the puppy an alternate home, Ellen let the agency know that Iggy was in a loving home. Unfortunately, it seems that the couple were unaware of a stipulation in the contract they signed when they adopted the dog which stated that the animal should be returned to Mutts and Moms if they could not keep it for any reason. As a result of that clause, the rescue organization, under the leadership of Martha Batkis, physically removed the puppy from its home. Batkis and the organization maintain that Iggy could not be placed in the alternate home because it was not a suitable environment for him, specifically because a small puppy should not be placed in a home with children under 14 years of age.

If Ellen's tearful plea for the puppy's return to the two little girls who bonded with him during their two weeks of caring for him were not enough, the story becomes even more dramatic with reports of Batkis experiencing heart palpatations as a result of death threats and harassment at the hands of DeGeneres's fans. Ms. Batkis even condends that Ellen is just trying to use her celebrity to bully and push the rescuer around. The story is all over newspapers and the Internet, and hundreds of bloggers have weighed in on the topic.

While death threats seem to be taking the matter way to far, I must admit that I actually signed an online petition to voice my opinion on the matter. The entire situation seems absolutely ludicrous to me. I mean, where is our common sense? Clearly, Ellen DeGeneres feels terribly about the situation, namely for the two little girls who fell in love with this puppy. In the clip I saw, she was genuinely devastated by what has happened and simply wanted Iggy to be returned to the children who love him. She made no derogatory comments about the rescue. She was not malicious. In fact, in the piece that I saw (admittedly not the entire show) she did not even mention the rescue's name.

Perhaps I've even given this whole matter way too much thought, but I keep asking myself this question--Shouldn't Mutts and Moms be thrilled that Ellen and Portia found Iggy another loving home? I keep wondering what I don't understand about the concept of pet rescue. Moreover, when did organizations like dog rescues decide that bureaucracy and red-tape were a good thing? I sort of have to wonder who is really trying to take advantage of celebrity here? Somehow I find it hard to believe that Ellen brokedown on national television as a way to throw her celebrity status around for her own gain.

Does anyone want my opinion? Probably not, but I'll give it anyway. For starters, let me give kudos to Ellen for being so real. I've always loved the comedienne for her quick wit, but now, I respect her for her humility, vulnerability, and her honesty. "Way to go, girl!" Now, to Mutts and Moms and Ms. Martha Batkis, I have to say, "Wake up and smell the kitty litter!" Seriously... It seems like a simple logic to me. One puppy needs one good home. It seems like that mission was already accomplished, but I guess it's more important to follow rules and reprimand television personalities than to exercise common sense. Ms. Batkis, are you another "decider?" Just puttin' that out there!