TMZ has spoken with law enforcement sources -- who now seem to acknowledge the LAPD may have made a mistake by letting Marina Batkis, owner of Mutts and Moms, take back the dog Ellen DeGeneres gave to her hairstylist.
The story aired last night on TMZ TV.
46. i cant belive the way mutts and moms acted and are acting about this problem with ellen and iggy and i think that they are just holding the dog so they can get money from ellen just because she is a celebrity and that lady at mutts and moms is CRAZY.
Posted at 3:00PM on Oct 20th 2007 by jennifer whitson
47. I hope the pressure sticks around until Mutts and Moms and their store are completely out of business.
A previous poster is correct when they say that this idiotic woman is making bad press for all shelters. This will drive away many perfectly good adopters that don't want to get burned in this same manner.
By the way, $600 is breeder's prices NOT rescue or shelter prices. Especially if they didn't actually fix the dog first. Sounds like this moron runs a non-profit puppy mill NOT a true rescue.
Posted at 3:01PM on Oct 20th 2007 by harpy_lady
48. can't belive the police were involved....700 murders in LA county this year! they're dealing w/ this!!!
Posted at 9:12PM on Oct 20th 2007 by hoops
49. Fools. When you adopt a dog from a rescue or adoption agency, you never "own" it. It is common language in EVERY adoption form that you CANNOT GIVE THE DOG AWAY. Take a look at the adoption forms from your local animal control / SPCA shelter: same language, same conditions, same controls.
So, get over it people: Ellen's celebrity is the only reason this made the press; dogs being retrieved from their outplacements by adoption agencies and shelters happens every day and no one is ever the worse for wear (certainly not Ellen or her presumably ridiculously overpaid hairstylist).
Posted at 6:14PM on Oct 28th 2007 by psyop1
50. To those few who claim Ellen is doing this for ratings your argument has no logic what so ever.
Ellen didn't arrange for Iggy to be taken away in the manner in which he was, She could not have arranged that bizarre behavior!
Ellen was the first to admit she made a mistake yet some use that with out acknowledging the rules at Mutt's and Moms seem to come and go depending on the owners mood that day, or celebrity status?
They broke their own rules then hid behind them!.
I have never watched Ellen's show and don't plan on it now, No negative reason just not on at a good time for me to watch TV.
However this issue has me reacting as it does many others.
People are not manipulated as easily as some want to believe. It just bothers those few who say it that people think differently then they want them too.
Posted at 3:10PM on Oct 20th 2007 by MStella
51. 1). Ellen adopted the dog; like it or not, dogs are considered PERSONAL PROPERTY.
2). Ellen was given "Special Treatment" by Mutts & Moms - no need for paperwork, ma'am!
3). Mutts & Moms, being a party to the "Implied, yet unsigned" Contract, were to register Iggy to ELLEN & PORTIA.
4). Mutts & Moms failed to register IGGY to the new owners; (Implied) CONTRACT NULLIFIED. Mutts & Moms acted in BAD FAITH. Fraud...
5). Mutts & Moms enforced a clause in their contract - but Ellen nor Portia never SIGNED the contract. CONTRACT NULLIFIED.
6). Iggy became the PERSONAL PROPERTY of the hairdresser's family when ELLEN & PORTIA gave Iggy to them - see #1, above.
7). Mutts & Moms appear at the hairdressers house under false pretenses (to do "an inspection" of Iggy's new home...) then trespass into hairdressers' back yard to seize the dog, despite protestations of hairdresser. TRESPASSING; THEFT.
8). Mutts & Moms then HAVE THE GALL to accuse Ellen of "using her celebrity status" by going public - they didn't seem to mind her celebrity when she adopted Iggy - she didn't even need to fill-out paperwork!!
Mutts & Moms can't understand the backlash they're receiving - these are pet people? And, they KNEW the chip in Iggy's neck was still registered in their organizations name, and used that information to their benefit - INTENT TO COMMIT FRAUD.
Posted at 3:12PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Kate
52. I don't want to see this go too far in the courts because I don't think the real rescues in the world need to have that to deal with too. Having a court actually declare that a dog is property could do damage in cases where an animal might be in real danger.
BUT. I hope the public stays with this and puts those Nazis at Mutts and Moms out of business. There are other rescues to take the dogs they already have. They don't need to be in this line of work. It's not about saving animals for these lunatics. It's about their own egos and personal gain. If they really loved animals they would have followed all the rules in the first place and Iggy wouldn't have been placed in a house with cats all this could have been avoided.
They deserve all the bad karma and backlash they're getting.
Posted at 3:15PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Izzy
53. I don't think Mutts and Mom had legal authority to go to Iggy's home and take him off their property..The police surely did make a mistake by letting them take the dog..the dog should have been left there and the matter handled legally.. In my opinion the police allowed that dog to be kidnapped by Mutts and Moms...
One would think the Mutts and Moms renegades could be charged with trespassing, illegal abduction, and false representation of why they had come to the home, i.e. wanting to inspect the home and family to see if they were a fit home for Iggy.. if I were that family I would file charges against them as well as charges against the police officer who supported the abduction..I am wondering if they brought along the contract that Ellen signed agreeing that the dog would be returned to them if it didn't work out at Ellen's..some justification of why they should be permitted to abduct the dog..if not, all the more reason to blame the police officer.....I do not think this should be considered a frivolous lawsuit..
I am sorry for Ellen..but what I can't understand is what was an educated woman like her, knowingly signing a contract agreeing to Mutts and Moms rules for the adoption and the turning aound and giving it away herself..not contacting them regardinig a family that she would like to have the dog..Know she feels bad, but think she overdid the drama on her show with the crying..and I would hate to think that she felt because she was Ellen, that Mutts and Moms wouldn't enforce the contract she had signed..Ellen should just take the two young girls shopping and let them pick out another dog at her expense and get on with their lives..
Posted at 3:19PM on Oct 20th 2007 by kitty kat
54.
Beavis and Jimbo
Why don't you two leave the big people's table, We are talking big words.
Posted at 3:20PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Greg
55.
HEY TMZ ~ WHAT'S UP WITH THAT HUMPING KARDASHIAN POP-UP?
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE PROMOTING PORNO. IS SHE MAKING ANOTHER MOVIE???
SPARE US PLEASE (and don't forget, children may be viewing your site too...).
Posted at 3:28PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Old Bat
56. You mean they admit to making a mistake?.....what a change
Posted at 4:01PM on Oct 20th 2007 by SamanthaD
57. God I can't believe how far this is going. Now the LAPD is in, as if they did't have more important things to do. Just give that dog back and let the cops do their job. How about stopping violence or murder??? man there are so many more important things happening in the world and all everyone cares about is Ellen's dog. Does anyone care about Darfour?????????
Posted at 3:37PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Roya
58.
# 55 Kate
Right on.
A lawyer for Mutts & Moms was on a talk show ( Greta) and will not return to that show because of some of those very points in your post were brought to his attention and he is upset with the show ( Greta).
He also said Ellen created a TMZ war! lol.
Like we need Ellen for that!
Posted at 3:40PM on Oct 20th 2007 by JackieOno
59. I can't believe TMZ is still following this story. Who's Ruby anyway? Is that that smug little blonde girl? Well, I have news for you, Ruby, and your gay mom, Iggy could probably care less for you. I'm sure he's someplace now where he's happy and not even thinking about you. I saw the video when they were using the blonde kid to try to get Iggy back. I didn't exactly see the dog trying to get back to Ruby or even looking the least big distressed. This is really all about Ellen and her getting back at the agency for not letting her have her way. How dare they do something to defy the famous Ellen DeGeneres. I used to like her better than all of the talk show hosts, but she's certainly shown her true colors. There was no reason for her to bring this to the media the way she did. She was out to punish the dog adoption agency. She's just another celeb drunk with her own power.
Posted at 3:57PM on Oct 20th 2007 by sillyme
60.
Seems to me if Ellen takes this to court, then Iggy would get returned to the little girl.
I hope Ellen pursues this course of action.
And for all you idiots that keep bringing up race and being gay, take your ridiculously childish comments elsewhere ~ CAN'T YOU READ WHERE IT SAYS:
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry.
We're talking about a major screw-up by the LAPD taking away a little girls dog.
Now listen to Greg and leave the "big people's table".
Posted at 3:54PM on Oct 20th 2007 by Old Bat
