"I doubt very much that we would've taken that animal away," says SPCA Spokeswoman

Local animal official disagrees with decision to take dog from Ellen DeGeneres' hairdresser: " 'Ellen has a fabulous reputation - her interest in animal welfare is well-known and well-documented,' said Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA spokeswoman Ricky Whitman.

DeGeneres and her partner, actress Portia de Rossi, adopted Iggy, a Brussels Griffon mix, from Mutts and Moms, a volunteer, non-profit dog rescue organization in Pasadena on Sept. 20. But, after Iggy and the kitties didn't mix, DeGeneres gave the dog to her hairdresser, whose 11- and 12-year-old daughters bonded with it..."

"..Sunday, the agency sent a representative to the hairdresser's home and took the dog..."

"...Though the local humane society has the same policy, saying adopted dogs who aren't working out should be returned to the shelter rather than given away, Whitman says her group 'would've handled this very differently.'

'I doubt very much that we would've taken that animal away,' she said. 'From what I've read, the family is just devastated. Ellen is certainly devastated. That's not what you want. You want people who have animals to be happy, and you want animals to be in wonderful environment.' "