Iggy

People say to me a lot how do you do this show if you’re in a bad mood? How do you do your show if you’re sad or, don’t you have bad days? I’m a human being and I have bad days and I have sad days. But when I walk out here and you all cheer and when you’re here to dance, you’re here to laugh and I know I make people happy. It changes my mood. I come out here and I can do anything because of the energy I get.

But today is a hard day for me. Today is bad. I am not capable of coming out and pretending to be funny and on when things are going so terribly wrong right now.

I’m so sorry; I’m just not able to pretend. So I’m going to tell you the story. I’m going to get over it and we’re going to have a good show and we have a great show. So it’s going to be funny and it’s going to be everything that you turn the show on for.

Here’s what happened. I love animals. I love animals. I rescue them and I’ve adopted so many animals and found so many animals homes over the years. On September 20, I adopted a dog from a rescue organization here in the area. I got it neutered, I got it trained and I paid my vet extra money to take it home to sleep in the bed with him at night instead of a cage. I spent $3000 on this puppy to acclimate it, to train it to be with our cats. It was just too much energy and too rambunctious.

My hairdresser who I see every single day, she and her husband have two little girls, eleven and twelve-years-old. They were just looking for a puppy. They have a dog. They said, “We love Iggy can we have Iggy?”

Iggy has been with them for two weeks. I get updates every single day and pictures every day of how happy Iggy is and how much their daughters love Iggy. The organization contacted me yesterday and said, “How’s Iggy?” And I told them the truth. I didn’t lie. I said, “Iggy has a great home.”

Well, I guess I signed a piece of paper that says if I can’t keep Iggy, it goes back to the rescue organization. Which is not someone’s home, which is not a family. These two little girls had bonded to the dog. I thought I did a good thing. I tried to find a loving home for the dog because I couldn’t keep it. I was trying to do a good thing.

Because I did it wrong, those people went and took that dog out of their home, and took it away from those kids. (Wells up with tears). I feel totally responsible for it and I’m so sorry (sobbing) I’m begging them to give that dog back to that family. I just want the family to have their dog. It’s not their fault. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have given the dog away. Just please give the dog back to those little girls.

I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry I did the wrong thing. Just give it back to the family. Please please please.

That’s the story and that’s why I’m feeling like I am responsible for trying to do something and I did it without reading all the things I should have read. So I’m sorry.

(Changing the mood, takes a breath) What a great show we have for you today.

next: 30 Seconds To Air

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I love how you are always happy and hilarious even though you say you don't always feel that good. It is this way that you are and think that gives me inspiration and makes me laugh every day. I like your sense of humor, it's the weird little things in life pictures, etc. that make you laugh even if not everyone else gets it.

Posted by karen sturma | November 26, 2008 12:49 PM

I was wondering if you can please send me a fax number to anyone who I can send a letter to. regarding a letter about making my dream wish come true.

Thank you

Posted by Rita Commentucci | November 25, 2008 7:40 PM

As a dog, all I care about is being with people
who love me. Forget about the paper work and policy. Rather ask, "Is he loved?". Once a child falls in love with me, it's more important to keep that bond, than to follow some rule. Dear people, love is the answer. My friend Ellen did the most loving thing for me.

Woof and Wags,
Iggy

Posted by Iggy | November 25, 2008 1:51 PM

you should have taken the dog back...instead you used your show to put the whole animal adoption agency into disrepute...also, you should never have danced with Chris Matthews.. sorry ellen, I am like you less and less each day with your calls for "Celebrity exceptionalism
..

Posted by kris | November 21, 2008 2:26 AM

My last comment.

So much attention was put on this one little dog when there are sooooooooo many-5 million cats and dogs that get killed in shelters each year-who are waiting to be taken to their forever home.I hope the family with the two girls realized there are so many Iggy's out there who would love to go home with them.Anyway I wish everyone luck, Ellen-my sweetheart-the girls-who I am sure were very sweet-and to the shelter that was put into this mess on national television and got their own lives threatened.

Love! Don't hate! Peace Everybody!

Posted by Jeff | November 17, 2008 11:45 PM

Hi Terri Gobble Eastmead,

I agree, some shelters are irresponsible for not doing an extensive face to face interview, amongst other things, to ensure a forever home for these poor animals.This is slowly changing though with the NoKillAdvocacyCenter.org.

Yes,contracts are broken here and there.That is life.When the same contract is broken,6 different times,I think something needs to finally be done.Don't you? I wonder if the same "that's life" thinking would have been the same if it involved something else,and not an animal.I don't know.

There are two types of shelters-irresponsible ones that are okay with an application,(bad),and ones that do pay attention and truly care,perhaps with a simple contract,(good). Because of horror animal fates,these small agreements-contracts-came to be.Not to get on anyone's nerves.:)

This particular shelter in fact had overlooked their own contract 2 other occasions with Wonderful Ellen. At the third time(with Iggy)they finally did more than just the previous passive warnings.

I know some may think,'Geez it is only an animal, lighten up", but you see it is this type of thinking why these poor abondend animals are in shelters in the first place.

Nobody is crucifying Ellen:) I do know one thing for sure. Ellen will respect any responsible shelter's rules and give a quick call to give a heads up about the situation.That is the least we can do for the animals who put their entire trust in us to make sure they will be okay? That isn't to much to ask for,is it?

Posted by Jeff | November 17, 2008 11:31 PM

Ikea,I understand what you are saying.I agree.But after so many times of this same repeated situation happening maybe it was time for someone to say something.Ellen--my favorite talk show host--could not handle it.I don't know.Something tells me Ellen wont be doing this little mishap anymore.And that is great because,celebrity or not,all rules-big or small-should apply the same to all people.

Posted by Jeff | November 17, 2008 10:18 PM

Hi guys and gals! JUST A THOUGHT................
How many of us have signed something that we have not read? How many of us have read all the terms and conditions of every contract we became a part of? We ALL make mistakes - that's called LIFE!!!! Ellen and Portia wouldn't hurt a flea on Iggy or any other animal or person. Don't crucify her for wanting to find Iggy a good home. Quite honestly, it sounds as if Ellen and Portia are doing a better job than the shelter finding homes for these poor and abandoned pets??!! My dog Rawley is treated like a Queen and ALL of my pets are family and are very well taken care of and I, who tried to adopt a cat once, got turned down??!! It broke my heart because I KNOW that the cat would have been very happy and spoiled! Perhaps these shelters should take more time to inform the IMPORTANT TERMS such as if the adoption doesn't work out to bring the animal back. AND take the time to sit and talk to the adopter, instead of just taking an application. It sounds as if Ellen and Portia were trying to rescue Iggy and meant NO harm to the pup by finding a home for him. Otherwise, what was his fate---Death?? I can't believe all the anger and hate out there...make love, people not war!!! LIGHTEN UP AND DANCE !!! Love you all! (Sorry for the previous msg sent, I'm new at this computer thingee)!

Posted by Terri Goble-Eastmead | November 15, 2008 2:35 PM

Hi Jeff, I just wandered over this way and speaking as a guest not a fan, the issue's you put forward for the actions of the shelter are all very reasonable and I agree up to a point. As you stated, Ellen could have brought her friend with her to adopt the puppy on it's return, then again the shelter could have contacted both Ellen or her friend, explained the situation and proposed such a solution instead of removing the animal and inviting hostilities between all parties.

Posted by Ikea | November 12, 2008 7:53 PM

The rescue organization Ellen adopted Iggy out from was aware of several other dogs Ellen had adopted and gave away before. When adopting any pet from any responsible shelter,that shelter has the adopter sign a contract that says if at any time you will no longer keep the animal,for whatever reason,you must,must,return the animal back to the shelter.[This protects the animals.Shelters have heard to many horror stories of what sometimes happens to the animals that are no longer in the home they were adopted into.]

Ellen signed that contract.
In this case Ellen could have taken Iggy back and had her hairdresser go with her and then Iggy would have peacefully been adopted out to be with the two little girls.I Love Ellen and have followed her since before her sitcom comedy show 'Ellen'.I am one of her biggest fans and believe a lot of people on here that do not agree with how Ellen handled this are actually her fans as well.I think it's silly that some people on here write things like 'we your fans' and 'we who love you understand you did nothing wrong Ellen'.

I am one of her biggest fans like I've said and I am saying Ellen should have taken care of this in a much more mature way.The shelter got death threats to say the least.This whole situation turned ugly because of what Ellen continued to do.Remember she had already gave away other dogs several times before.

To the person who posted that the shelter should have made an exception....How many exemptions can you give one person? I say this with the utmost respect for Ellen and for all that she does for helping animals everywhere.

Elle I love you! So that something like this does not happen again,please have the new adopters go to the shelter and re-adopt the pet you want them to have.It gives the shelter peace of mind too. Thank you Ellen!From one of your biggest fans,Jeff T.

Posted by Jeff | November 9, 2008 10:53 PM

It is unbelivable to me that they went into the home of your hairdresser and ripped Iggy out of the arms of those 2 little girls. You did the right thing Ellen by trying to give the dog a good home. I had a bad experience with a dog from the Humane Society. A few years back I adopted a dog ( it looked like the movie dog Benji). I had the dog neutered and had spent over $600.00 on him in less than a six week period. He had some strange parasite that is very uncommon for dogs. That we found after having him a matter of 2 days. Any way one day he started to nip a a neighbors foot and then the landlord. a couple days later he tried to bite my son who was only 18 months.( my son had just come down the stairs). I decided at that time the dog had to go back were he came from. When I brought the dog back to the Humane Society I explained all that we had been thri with the dog. They asked me if he was good with kids and I said NO. I watched tehm mark yes on there paper work that he was great with kids. I called a couple days later to find out that they had put him down because he had tried to bite an employee. If you found Iggy a loving home and he was being well taken care of they should have left him alone. Congrats. for not lying..

Posted by Marci | November 7, 2008 3:44 AM

It's a shame they couldn't make an exception. Everyone knows your the biggest animal lover! Keep on supporting animal adoption, spay and neuter, and help put an end to animal abuse. I love your show! It's one of the few out there that I can actually sit through the whole thing, get a good hearted belly laugh out of and just feel better :) Your my hero! I adore you and all you stand for! Keep it up!

Posted by Sarah | November 6, 2008 1:08 PM

Hey. Where is Iggy now?

Posted by Nicky | November 6, 2008 11:20 AM

I'm so sorry this happened to you and those poor little girls. It's so sad. Not your fault Ellen. It could happen to anyone. What a ridiculous group that could not make it a happy ending. Very sad.
PS
Thanks for the AZ info. I need my dog and two cats spayed and neutered. Great info.

Posted by Angela | November 5, 2008 9:23 PM

ellenwhen we are sad we have three english bulldogs that make us laugh all the their names are SARA ANNE COY.CONNOR COY AND OUR LITTLEGRANDDOG HER NAME IS LUCY.I WISH I KNEW HOW TO SEND YOU A PICTURE. GREAT DOGS.

Posted by catherine a. coy | November 4, 2008 1:06 AM

Hi Marlene! It is animal lover again. After writing my last message to you I searched "No cost spay and neuter in pima county" and a lot of different options came up and all in the tucson area.

Thinking about it, I guess the Big Fix Program that I had been talking about is for Maricopa County only,but please search for pima county and you will find programs just like that in Tucson.I have a few specific places you can go to,so if you are having trouble finding one please let me know your zip code and I can specifically give the clinics for that zip code.

What I find helpful in getting the best service and best price is calling a few different places I have chosen, and asking them a few specific questions that are important to me. For example: One clinic is low cost and it is by appointment only, and another place is totally free by a first come, first serve basis and another place is totally free for the surgery but asks that pain medicine be bought there at the clinic.I hope I am not making this sound overwhelming because it really isn't.:)

It is actually really easy and the doggies and kitties deserve to get fixed.:) Good luck Marlene,and please let me know how it goes.

Posted by Animal Lover | November 4, 2008 1:05 AM

HI MARLENE! I JUST SAW THE POST YOU LEFT ON OCTOBER 21ST.
I AM SO SORRY FOR GETTING BACK TO THIS SITE SO LATE. I HOPE THIS INFO IS STILL OF HELP TO YOU.

THANKS FOR ASKING HOW TO GET YOUR DAUGHTER'S BASSET HOUND FIXED.THANKS FOR CARING.IT IS A PROGRAM BY THE MARICOPA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

JUST GO TO PETS.MARICOPA.GOV AND CLICK ON SPAY AND NEUTER VOUCHER PROGRAM TO PRINT OUT THE APPLICATION FOR THE FREE SURGERY. IT IS SO EASY AND EVERYONE QUALIFIES!

SIMPLY FILL OUT THE 1 PAGE APPLICATION,THEN MAIL OUT TO THE ADDRESS SHOWN ON ONE OF THE PAGES THAT WILL PRINT OUT,AND IN TWO WEEKS WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE VOUCHER(S),YOU WILL GET A LIST OF VETS WHERE TO TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER'S DOG.THEY GIVE 90 DAYS TO USE THE VOUCHER AND IT IS BY APPOINTMENT.

:)IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MAY WANT TO GET THEIR KITTIES FIXED,THIS IS FOR KITTIES TOO.I KNOW A LADY WHO LIVES A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME AND SHE HAD HER 6 KITTIES AND 2 DOGS FIXED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HOW MANY DOGS AND CATS SOMEONE CAN TAKE AT ONCE.IT IS ALL DONE ON ONE EASY APPLICATION.

MARLENE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING 2 RESCUED DOGS. YES YOU ARE RIGHT! RESCUED ANIMALS ARE ALL SO LOVABLE!:)

TO HAVE THE BIG FIX SPAY/NEUTER APPLICATION MAILED OUT TO YOUR HOME, YOU CAN CALL A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTAIVE AT 602-506-PETS--MONDAY THRU FRIDAY, 8AM TO 5PM -- AND ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE TO PLEASE SEND THE BIG FIX SPAY/NEUTER APPLICATION TO YOU.

IF THEY ONLY HAVE VETS THAT ARE TO FAR TO DRIVE, OR DON'T PROVIDE THIS SERVICE OUTSIDE OF MARICOPA COUNTY, PLEASE GO ONLINE AND SEARCH FOR 'LOW COST OR FREE COST SPAY AND NEUTER IN SUCH AND SUCH COUNTY.' IF YOU DO NOT FIND ONE,PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND I WILL FIND ONE IN TUCSON,OK?:):)

I HOPE THIS HELPS AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW IT WENT.THANK YOU MARLENE!

Posted by Animal Lover | November 4, 2008 12:02 AM

Wow, when I first watched this ages ago, I had no idea what was going on. I didn't know it was quite a big issue in the US media. I stumbled on this again while researching on environmental conservation (haha, I don't know how it came to reach this).

From what I gather, I can't see why there's so much hate on the rescue organization. They did what was mandatory. Just because Ellen is a celebrity shouldn't mean the rules could be bent a little. Yes, animals (especially young ones) are sensitive to their surroundings but it could've really gone a better way had Ellen tried to help her hairdresser's family get the dog back by proving to the rescue org that they deserved the dog, instead of pleading on (inter)national TV.

Ah well, people make mistakes. Ellen is still loved. And that's that. I hope Iggy is happy in his new household. Such a cute dog (:

Posted by that Cat | October 26, 2008 7:29 AM

Animal Lover,
I just moved to Arizona (LOVE IT!) and would appreciate knowing where to get the vouchers for a free neuter. My daughter has a bassett hound and he needs fixed and she's a student with a son and her hubby has his own business that is suffering right now with the economy. (She's in AZ too - Tucson)
I myself have two rescue dogs who are already neutered. Unfortunately we didn't have a reduced fee or free where we lived so we got to pay full price (wow!).
But rescue dogs are the most loving because they are wanted. Even if they have 'issues' from previous abuse, they are still loving animals.
Thanks for the info!
Marlene

Posted by Marlene | October 21, 2008 11:29 AM

Hard to believe it's been a year since the Iggy story began and ended a shout while later. Love you Ellen

Posted by Anonymous | October 16, 2008 5:42 PM

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