As an animal lover and fan of Ellen DeGeneres, I was both angered and saddened by tearful plea. So many thoughts come to mind.

I discussed the clause in question with a friend. He works as an animal rescue volunteer. The purpose is an easy to keep the dog out of a shelter.

He was shocked that they would remove the dog from a loving home. It will probably be placed in a kennel like his own. Just one of dozens of homeless.

It would be a different story had sold the dog or put an ad in the paper. Even so, then I would agree with the agency. This was a hand-picked and experienced home with the money to care for a pet.

 
DeGeneres' Former Dog Stays With Agency
 
Oct 17, 12:07 AM (ET)

By BETH HARRIS
 
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ellen DeGeneres' doggy drama intensified Tuesday after her tearful plea on her talk show led to death threats against the rescue group that took back her adopted dog for violating the contract, according to a spokesman for the agency's owners.

DeGeneres explained on her show that the Brussels Griffon terrier mix didn't get along with her cats, so she gave it to her hairstylist's family. The owners of Mutts and Moms claimed that DeGeneres violated the adoption agreement by not informing them that she was giving the dog away and removed Iggy from the hairstylist's home Sunday.

As a result of the publicity, Marina Batkis and Vanessa Chekroun received voice mail and e-mail threats of death and arson and were besieged by the media, disrupting business at Paws Boutique store in Pasadena, where they handle the volunteer, nonprofit rescue agency, attorney Keith A. Fink said.

Batkis rejected DeGeneres' plea to give the dog back to her hairstylist's family.
 
"She (Batkis) doesn't think this is the type of family that should have the dog," said Fink, who is not legally representing the owners but is authorized to speak for them. "She is adamant that she is not going to be bullied around by the Ellen DeGenereses of the world ... They are using their power, position and wealth to try to get what it is they want."

DeGeneres' attorney, Kevin Yorn, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

"It's very upsetting to hear that someone is getting those kind of calls," DeGeneres' publicist Kelly Bush said. "Ellen just wants the dog reunited with the family."

On her talk show taped Tuesday and airing Wednesday, a serious DeGeneres reiterated to her audience that "the dog needs to go to the family."

It "just needs to be in a good home," she continued, according to a transcript given to The Associated Press. "All that you're supposed to do is put a dog in a loving home."

DeGeneres had said her hairdresser's daughters, ages 11 and 12, had bonded with Iggy and were heartbroken when the dog was taken away.

Fink said Moms and Mutts has a rule that families with children under 14 are not allowed to adopt small dogs.

"It's for the protection of the dog," he said.

Do they really think you should be 14 to care for dogs? Age is only a number. I have seen kids that are better with pets than adults. Please, roll back that age.

My nephew would love to have a puppy. But we all agree that 14-months is too young. For now, he will have to prove himself with the family dog and cats.

I finally got him his very own computer. Complete with a kiddy keyboard and track ball. He mostly hits keys at random. But knows how to move his curser.

- Paul