From statements made by DeGeneres and published accounts, it appears that before the dog was adopted, her household was home to several cats. The dog is called Iggy and reports describe it as a Brussels-Griffon mix.

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Sobbing Ellen DeGeneres Pleads for Dog Associated Press - (APTN) Oct. 16, 2007. 11:14 AM EST Ellen DeGeneres is in trouble with a pet rescue after giving an adopted dog away to her hairdresser because it didn't get along with her cats. She her view on her show. (16 October 2007)

True to her support of animal welfare issues, when DeGeneres added a dog to her life she turned to a local rescue, Mutts and Moms. Like most rescues it appears that Mutts and Moms had DeGeneres sign a contract before she could take Iggy home.

Such contracts normally require the new pet owner to provide certain levels of care and provide the rescue with rights of inspection and repossession in the event they discover substandard conditions.

It now appears the Mutts and Moms contract also prohibited DeGeneres from transferring the ownership of Iggy to any third party. The mess has resulted from DeGeneres' admitted gift of Iggy to her hairdresser due to what she describes as unacceptable behavior of the dog, apparently in relation to the cats. On her program she outlined steps she had taken but that ultimately "It was just too much energy and too rambunctious," said DeGeneres. Upon learning that Iggy was no longer with DeGeneres Mutts and Moms apparently went to the home of the hairdresser and repossessed the pet.

During the show she claimed she had not read the contract very carefully. DeGeneres said on-camera that since her hairdresser was providing a loving home with children who had become attached to Iggy, she appealed to Mutts and Moms to return the dog to the hairdresser.

A request for an interview with Mutts and Moms has so far gone unanswered as this story is published.

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