Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Got this from Havanese Rescue organization:

Ellen DeGeneres' Misuse of Media and A Challenge To Right That Wrong
By Linda Milazzo


For the past two days I've been immersed in conversations with several
principals in the Ellen DeGeneres-Mutts & Moms-Iggy the Pup fiasco.
And fiasco it is. I've spoken with Ellen's publicist, Ellen's dog
trainer, the Vice President of Publicity for Telepictures (which
produces Ellen's show), the attorney for Marina Baktis and Vanessa
Chekroun (owners of Mutts & Moms in Pasadena, CA), and several
respected animal rescue experts in the Los Angeles area - many who
have worked with Mutts & Moms.

This past Monday, on her popular daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres
dissolved into tears as she recounted her experience of adopting a
puppy (Iggy) from a pet adoption agency (Mutts & Moms in Pasadena,
CA
- which to her credit, DeGeneres didn't name). After two weeks, Ellen
and her partner, Portia de Rossi, decided Iggy was incompatible with
their household and gave Iggy to Ellen's hairdresser (Cheryl Marks)
and the hairdresser' s eleven and twelve year old daughters. But the
legal contract Ellen signed with Mutts & Moms forbade Ellen from
giving Iggy away, and required Iggy to be returned to the Agency
should Ellen decide not to keep him. By giving 7 lb. Iggy to her
hairdresser and not returning him to Mutts & Moms as stipulated,
Ellen
broke her contract. As a result, Mutts & Moms went to the
hairdresser' s home, where, in the presence of the police, they
confiscated Iggy, returned him to their agency, and found him another
home.

Germane to this synopsis is the resultant vitriol that drove the
HUMANS involved to such an impasse that rational negotiation on Iggy's
behalf became impossible. Mutts & Moms failed to give the
hairdresser' s family its fullest consideration as legitimate adopters,
and used its legal leverage to remove Iggy from a home where he was
wanted. DeGeneres used the full extent of her celebrity to ignite a
fan-based frenzy that resulted in death threats to the impoverished
owners of Mutts & Moms. In addition, Baktis and Chekroun have likely
lost their animal rescue business and small store. An online petition
to Free Iggy has been launched by Ellen's supporters:
(
http://www.petition online.com/ mod_perl/ signed.cgi? FreeIggy), while
an
earlier online petition, which asked petitioners not to adopt from
animal rescue organizations until Iggy is returned, has rightfully
been taken down.
(
http://answers. yahoo.com/ question/ index?qid= 20071016170030AA 4iEG2)

Still the saddest repercussion of all is the potential for tens of
thousands of dogs and cats to go unadopted, and to be euthanized, due
to the anger engendered toward rescue groups as a result of this
debacle.

Below are are few clarifications of inaccuracies reported by the media
on this story:

1. Iggy did not live with DeGeneres and De Rossi for the full two
weeks before he was given to hairdresser Cheryl Marks. Iggy was left
in the care of Los Angeles dog trainer, Zach Grey (UrbanTails. net),
who reunited Iggy with DeGeneres and De Rossi after 9 days of
individual and group training - at which time Degeneres and De Rossi
concluded that they didn't want a young puppy - UNDERSCORING THE NEED
FOR THE CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT TO RETURN ANIMALS TO THEIR AGENCIES IF
THE ANIMAL IS UNWANTED. The fact is, DeGeneres and De Rossi did what
thousands of adopters do. They wanted a puppy, but realizing the
amount of work a puppy takes, they couldn't make that commitment. Can
one honestly fault Mutts & Moms for enforcing a provision that
protects rejected animals? If Mutts & Moms were to PUBLICLY
disregard
this requirement, it would pave the way for anyone to overrule this
safeguard and recklessly dispose of an animal.

2. Contrary to the negativity generated toward Mutts & Moms by the
powerful DeGeneres camp and biased media pundits, the animal rescue
experts with whom I've spoken were complimentary toward the
organization. Ricky Whitman, Vice President of Community Resources for
the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS), told me she was not clearly
represented in the press when quoted as saying "her group would've
handled this [Iggy situation] very differently."

http://www.pasadena starnews. com/news/ ci_7198523

What Whitman actually meant is that since PHS has contracts to provide
animal control services to different cities, they would have been
required to remove Iggy in the presence of animal control officers and
under much more stringent conditions - hence "differently."
Whitman
lauded the owners of Mutts & Moms for their rescue accomplishments,
stating, "We have worked closely and well with Mutts & Moms in
the
past. We have honored them for their work." Whitman recounted the
story of a pit bull puppy who'd been raised in a small bunny hutch.
According to Whitman, Mutts & Moms was the only organization willing
to accept the difficult task of rehabilitating this unfortunate animal
- an accomplishment Whitman praised highly.

3. The DeGeneres camp's contention that Mutts & Moms went to the
media
FIRST does not square with the timeline of events. On the evening
Mutts & Moms confiscated Iggy from the hairdresser' s house, TMZ
(also
a Telepictures product) had been called to video the visit. According
to Keith A. Fink, attorney for Mutts & Moms, it was the DeGeneres
camp
who contacted TMZ - NOT the media shy, show-biz naive owners of Mutts
& Moms. Indeed, my own experience with the owners of Mutts &
Moms
bears witness to their abject fear of media, since their own attorney
was unable to goad them into speaking with me or with the other media
attempting to make contact.

4. The "Moms" in the name Mutts & Moms doesn't identify
Marina
and
Vanessa as "moms" who rescue animals. The "Moms" in
Mutts &
Moms
denotes the organization' s inspired mission to adopt mother dogs from
shelters once they have given birth and nursed their puppies - an
arduous undertaking, since mother dogs are often euthanized after
nursing their litter.

In the final analysis, this Ellen DeGeneres-Mutts & Moms-Iggy saga
is
a private issue between private individuals that landed on the
national stage. If Ellen intended to use her show as the platform to
manipulate this matter, she has made a dangerous error in judgement.
She has crossed the regrettable line from comedy pulpit to bully
pulpit and used her mega platform to attack "the little guy" -
or in
this case - "the little gals." And it's caused significant
harm.

Yesterday on the phone, Laura Mandel, Vice President of Publicity for
Telepictures, described Ellen as "a real person with real
emotion." On
this there is no doubt. But Ellen is also an incredibly powerful woman
able to influence legions of fans. Beyond her cameras are millions of
viewers she knows nothing about, capable of acts she can't control.
They worship Ellen and protect her with a vengeance - and right now
their vengeance is centered on two frightened rescuers who don't
deserve their wrath. I've read some fan comments. Their hatred for
Marina and Vanessa is shocking.

In the entertainment business, there is the long-standing concept of
"a pro." "A pro" is an entertainer who, regardless of
personal
travails, faces the audience and does the job. In my opinion, Ellen is
teetering between a "pro" and a woman who's unclear about her
"job."
She's abused her power by publicly challenging those less powerful.
Rosie O'Donnell took on the President. Rosie also took on Trump.
Others take on corporations, like Exxon and the airlines. But Ellen
has challenged two defenseless woman with no resources - no fame, no
fortune, no accolades and no ovations. Only attorney Keith Fink has
come forth to champion their cause.

Across the nation, because of this fiasco, animal rescue organizations
have taken an enormous hit - for which helpless animals will bear the
brunt. To help revitalize this noble profession, I'm calling on Ellen
DeGeneres to step up and intercede. I'm asking her to use her
brilliance, her compassion, and her enormous reach to convene a panel
of rescue professionals on her own show as quickly as possible to
discuss what these organizations do and how they do it. There are
lessons that need to be learned and rules that must be understood. My
hope (though far-fetched) is that if Ellen does choose to do this,
Mutts & Moms will participate - without the caviat that Iggy be
returned to Cheryl and her daughters. There's an important lesson for
Cheryl's daughters in all of this that has somehow been forgotten. The
fact is, a contractual rule was broken. Sometimes the greater lesson
is understanding the need to honor the rule - rather than the need to
circumvent it.

On a personal note: For those who believe I'm holding Ellen to an
unfair standard by suggesting she shield her personal issues from her
viewers, I'll answer with this. One of the greatest gifts I've been
given in my lifetme is the opportunity to teach. Every day I face
rooms filled to capacity with adult students who care a great deal
about me. I've faced them when I'm happy and I've faced them when I'm
sad. I've faced them after losing family members, losing beloved
animals, losing relationships, undergoing surgery, and more. But I
neither share nor show my burdens. It is not my student's job to bear
them. Nor is it Ellen's viewers' job to bear hers. We are simply there
to serve.
Linda Milazzo

Message edited 10/21/2007 11:30:29 AM.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

What an amazing and well-written piece.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

I still side with Ellen - she said before she burst into tears that she cannot walk on stage that day pretending that everything is ok - and I can totally understand. She is a real person with real emotions and she was upset over the whole situation.

I still think Mutts and Moms should have reconsidered the new home.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Thankl you for posting this.

So true, and most people cannot see that part of the story.

Ellen still has a chance to do the right thing.

And Iggy NOT living with them but with a trainer, what is THAT about???????
How can he learn to get along with her cats outside of her home? Typical celebrity way...big expensive trainers when YOU (the celebrity) is the problem, not the animal.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

This is an unfortunate situation all the way around.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Very well-written article!!!!

It's a shame that these women are receiving death threats and may lose their business bc of this. Even more shameful are all the animals whose rescue is now in jeopardy.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Amazing Article. I am so saddened that the rescue community-at-large is affected by one adoption...one.

The reality is, Ellen broke the contract. The second reality is that Moms & Mutts could have allowed the dog to stay with the hairdresser after a home inspection, etc. The truth is shw showed up under a guise of a home inspection with Animal Control officers to re-claim the dog. It is true that Ellen broke the rules, and I think she should, as reparation, use her power and her media outlets to HELP rescue orgs and to see that they remain in good favour with the public (and not just those of us in the rescue community).

In addition, I think that it is more important than ever for folks to realize that a dog is a lifelong commitment, and that it is the responsibility of the rescue orgs to be certain that the home a pup is being placed in is a FOREVER HOME. House & vet checks are vital information, and could have shown that Ellen had adopted and re-homed pets before.....

At any rate, I hope the dust settles soon and the rescue orgs as a whole & those involved here recover quickly before too many animals suffer for it.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Ellen's show tomorrow is dedicated to shelter adoptions.

I don't think she meant to cause all the harm that has come out of this. Yes the organizations have their reasons and yes it was irresponsible of her.

However we all make mistakes. It is a shame that psychos are going after the adoption agencies because of this.

Anyway I am looking forward to her show tomorrow -- I really do not think she intended such an outpouring of negativity. I think she just felt bad that the family was suffering for her mistakes...and the dog too...

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

I think that is very well written and eloquent.

I think if you're going to take Ellen at face value and allow her a pass to act without thinking through the repercussions, you should be doing that for all involved.

Would Ellen have gone about it the way she did if she knew how much negative attention would be focused on Mutts and Moms?

Would Mutts and Moms have reacted the same way if they thought their actions would put their business in danger?

Whether you agree with the original contract or not, it was signed and agreed to. Once you sign that, your disagreement with whether it's too restrictive or not is null and void. You signed it. Period.

Someone like Ellen should be smart enough to understand the power of the written or spoken word. If she didn't know before, she probably does now.

I applaud Mutts and Moms for treating her like any other adoption candidate, and not a celebrity. What kind of message would they be sending to future clients if they bent or broke the rules for her?

Bravo to them. Too many people ignore the promises they make for favor of their own whim. It's about time they took responsibility for their actions.

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

hi all -
I know this is an old post but was wondering if your own Havanese pups and where u purchased them~ Thank you

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

Re: Great article on how Ellen is hurting rescues

You are right on the money. Ellen is like so many others, it is just she is rich. Rescue works hard to make sure the pet goes to the right home and stays there. Ellen should be ashamed of herself.