Iggy is Animal Fair’s first-ever solo cover. For years it has always been a pet and their owner, and for this reason alone, he stands on top as our number one Animal Headliner of 2007. Iggy has spent months gracing television and newspapers over a simple misunderstanding by the lovable Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres and her partner, Nip/Tuck star Portia de Rossi, had adopted Iggy from Mutts & Moms, a program that helps mutts and mothers of mutts find homes. In a tearful tell-all DeGeneres told America: “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.”
She later gave it away to her hairdresser and his household that included two little girls. DeGeneres went on to say “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.” In true headlining style, Iggy was taken away. Cameras even caught genuine tears from the young girl who begged for her dog back. Fans were outraged and backed Ellen, some went so far as posing death threats against Marina Baktis, who heads Mutts & Moms. Iggy was reassigned to a different home but did star in an Entertainment Tonight PSA with Mary Hart to promote the adoption of animals.
“We agreed to do a PSA for ET because I was receiving too many e-mails and phone calls accusing me of having euthanized Iggy. Letting everyone see that he was alive and well stopped those nasty people from contacting me. I guess not everyone knows the difference between a shelter and a rescue group” Baktis told Animal Fair, claiming she did not do it for the money and adds “if you only knew what I’ve turned down over the past month.” Baktis does worry about Iggy’s fate. “I don’t want his family to have fears, for the rest of their lives, that someone will try to steal their dog.” The truth is Iggy made headlines because he was caught in a misunderstanding. He was never in danger, always well taken care of, and has even given back by using his face to raise awareness. Iggy’s spot in Animal Headliners of 2007 will only help him to continue to help dogs that need rescuing.
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