No one could have missed the high drama of last week when Ellen De Generes was sobbing on her own American TV program, using her media might, and celebrity arrogance, to get the public on her side over a dog she had for only 10 days. The rules were very clear when she took the dog: if she had a problem with it, she must consult the shelter that gave it to her or return it, but it shouldn't be given to a new owner, especially a home that had young children.
De Generes decided after only 10 days that she didn't want the dog and gave it to her hairdresser, who also had young children, in direct contravention of her contract. Then she added fuel to her fire by crying on TV in a victim-like way, having one of her hairdresser's children on the show to talk about how much she missed 'her dog', and having a personal rant about the shelter, with lots of crocodile tears added for good measure. That was immature, pathetic and very selfish. If she cared about that dog, really cared about it, she would leave it to the experienced shelter staff to decide a home for it, and would not have made a mountain out of a molehill.
Some dogs are very traumatised when they are found and not every home would suit them, especially if they were harmed at the hands of young children. Rules are there for a reason and perhaps De Generes felt that, as a well known celebrity with a TV show, those rules did not apply to her, whatever she signed or promised. Furthermore, the shelter had asked the hairdresser to come and sign some papers, if she wanted the dog, which she refused to do. So it wasn't as if she were not given the opportunity too to have the dog for her family. Someone else was willing to sign the papers and eventually got the dog.
These pet shelters have a difficult task on their hands looking after unwanted animals and placing them in good homes without one selfish, arrogant lady playing the victim and bringing the wrath of her fans down upon them. It was a highly irresponsible and unprofessional thing to do, using her show to fight her personal battles, when that could have been settled privately and to everyone's satisfaction.
My hat goes to the shelter which stood firm on the matter, despite the antics of this insensitive woman and all the threats they got. There is nothing worse than having power, then abusing it. And Ellen De Generes certainly abused her media power in this instant. Would she treat every disappointing transaction the same way?
This is no dog lover, otherwise she would have acted in the interests of the dog. She's a spoilt, petulant, insecure person who just wanted to show her media might in the worst possible way, without demonstrating the responsibility and respect a well known presenter should have both to herself and her public.
Thumbs Down To... Ellen De Generes