The idea that a rescue group has some permanent right to custody of a dog is rather absurd.

No, this statement is absurd. First of all, it’s a simple contractual thing. When you adopt a dog from most rescue groups, you sign an agreement that you will return the dog if you can no longer keep it.

Second of all, there is a reason for this rule. Rescue groups have long experience in assessing the suitability of a particular family for a particular dog. For example, a type of dog who likes to wander wouldn’t be placed with a family who doesn’t have a fenced yard, since the chances are it would soon end up dead in the road if it were. The average dog owner (like Ellen) isn’t remotely as knowledgeable about what might or might not be a problem with a potential new family.

I agree with the previous poster. I’m appalled at this situation — but not because of the AGENCY’s actions…of ELLEN’S. I know people who have adopted from these agencies before, and the agencies are trying to do a good thing by handling the process almost as carefully as a regular adoption agency would handle a baby. People agree to return the dog to the agency if for whatever reason they cannot keep them — that ensures that the dog will NEVER be dumped anywhere, or placed with a bad home, etc. A friend of mine adopted his dog after two previous familes returned him to their agency — and thank God they did! These organizations are run by GOOD people, who are there to LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY AND BEST INTEREST OF THE DOGS — NOT to look out for self-involved celebrities who like to think that the rules don’t apply to them. I am so sick to death of these people trying to play the “celeb” card, especially in the way Ellen is doing…when SHE is the one in the wrong here!!

And don’t get me wrong — I’ve always been an Ellen fan, but in this case, I think she is 150% OUT OF LINE. SHE made the mistake, and while it might seem easy enough to just “work out the details” and let the agency formalize the new arrangement with this family of Ellen’s choosing, that is up to the AGENCY. NOT Ellen, and NOT Ellen’s hairdresser. And most importantly, NOT the American public. I am appalled that Ellen, in an effort to absolve herself of her own guilt, stoops to using her television show to try to make the AGENCY look like bad people, simply for doing EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO. The agency has not misrepresented themselves here, and they have done nothing wrong. And if in the end, this hairdresser’s family doesn’t fit the agency’s criteria for adoption of this particular dog, then that’s just too damn bad for Ellen and her hairdresser. I’m sorry that the daughters of these people are heartbroken, but you know what? Nobody died here…we’re talking 2 WEEKS they had this dog. Suck it up, get over it, and take it as a lesson in disappointment, girls. It won’t be the last time in your life you have to face it, so enough with the tears, already — despite the bad example you have in your hysterical Auntie Ellen. I’m sorry, but Ellen is going to have to shoulder ALL of the responsibility for this one herself (Portia, too)…and I just think it’s BEYOND disgusting that she gave such a hysterical, weepy plea on her television show to try to sway the “Ellen-ites” of the world to get on her irresponsible bandwagon here.

Now these poor women who run this GOOD organization are now receiving death threats from Ellen’s idiotic fans? I’m sorry — but THAT is what’s wrong here. NOT the actions of the agency. If Ellen wants to have guilt about something, why doesn’t she save it for THAT. If anything happens to this agency or the people who run it, Ellen can consider herself 100% responsible for causing it. Do you suppose she’s going to break down on TV about THAT, too? If anything, I want to see her get her S together and go on TV to APOLOGIZE — not just to the girls that she disappointed, but to this agency — she should say she’s sorry for giving their efforts a bad name, and for setting them up to be a target for violence. She should ENCOURAGE the efforts of agencies like this, and urge her viewers to adopt from them, NOT to threaten them. Give me a Goddamn break. She, and everyone else who is rushing to take Ellen’s side in this, need to GROW THE HELL UP and pay attention when there are rules/contracts involved with an adoption. I’m sick of all the bellyaching over this, from people who don’t know what the hell they’re talking about.

Wayne Pacelle of The Humane Society of the United States commented on Ellen’s situation yesterday. He says Mutts & Moms threw common sense out the window.