Shelter given threats over DeGeneres dog

A pet rescue agency that confiscated a dog from Ellen DeGeneres' hairdresser after she broke the rules of its adoption has been receiving death threats.

The comedienne adopted a Brussels Griffon mix called Iggy from the Mutts and Mums animal shelter last month, but when she realised he did not get on with her cats she gave him to her hairdresser and her two children.

But when the agency learnt about what she had done, it went to collect Iggy because DeGeneres had signed an agreement that she would not give the dog away without informing them.

Last night, the talk show host surprised her audience by breaking down and pleading with Mutts and Mums to give the dog back to the family.

She said: "Today is a hard day for me. Today is bad. I am not capable of coming out and pretending to be funny, when things are going so terribly wrong right now.

"I feel totally responsible for it and I'm so sorry. 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."