I'm sure most readers have heard about the Ellen DeGeneres and Iggy saga.

For those of you who don't know, the short version is DeGeneres and partner Portia de Rossi adopted a four-month-old dog from a California-based rescue organization called Mutts and Moms.

When the little Brussels-Griffon mix proved to be somewhat of a challenge to the couple's cats, Ellen made the decision to give the wee bundle to her hairstylist and two preteen daughters. Shortly after, a representative from Mutts and Moms called DeGeneres to see how Iggy was doing in his new home. DeGeneres told the caller what had transpired.

Now, this is where things start going south.

As with most pet adoption contracts, the adopter must sign to a clause that states that if for any reason the placement doesn't work out, the animal must be returned to the shelter or rescue organization and can not be given away or sold.

Mutts and Moms then told DeGeneres she had violated her adoption agreement and they were going to have to 'repossess' the dog. Instead of dealing with the issue privately and keeping it between herself, the rescue organization and the hairdresser's family, DeGeneres had an emotional break down and announced her dilemma and faux pas on her national TV show, which in turn has caused more controversy and criticism for all involved.

However, it appears that Mutts and Moms is bearing the brunt of the backlash and has been bombarded with nasty e-mails, hate calls and even death threats. Despite pleas to the public from DeGeneres herself to leave the rescue alone, Mutts and Moms continued to be harassed throughout the week.

Their website had to be disabled in an effort to protect the people who work there and the dogs that reside at the facility. Mutts and Moms policy is not to adopt dogs into homes with children under 14, and the media is making this the issue when the organization took Iggy from the hairstylist's family.

The real issue is that he was given away without the consent or authorization of the rescue.

I'm sure if DeGeneres could turn back time she would. And here's how I suspect she would play her hand (and should have).

DeGeneres should have called Mutts and Moms to alert them the integration between Iggy and the cats was not going well. She would have asked them if they have any advice or transition tips to share that would help the situation. At that point DeGeneres could have introduced the possibility that if for some reason the situation between the dog and cats did not improve, could the hairstylist be considered for Iggy's adoption?

Then it would have been out in the open and the rescue organization could engage or decline the offer. That way Iggy is not bounced from pillar to post, people aren't threatening to kill two women who run a grassroots dog adoption agency, DeGeneres' fans could calm down, animal welfare groups did not have to defend their adoption contracts, and DeGeneres would not have had to cancel two shows because she was too stressed out.

Bottom line: Know what you are signing when you enter into a contractual agreement. Understand repercussions will ensue if you break any part of your contract (no matter who you are or who you think you are).

There are many homeless Iggy's out there and perhaps in the scheme of things it has brought to light the number of pets in need of adoption; hopefully people will now be more aware of what they are signing and know that most all shelters and rescues stand behind their contracts.