DeGeneres wants family to get dog back

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. television host Ellen DeGeneres offered an emotional on-air apology for flouting pet-adoption rules by giving her dog to another family.

DeGeneres gave the high-energy dog to her hairdresser because it wasn't making nice with her cats. The hairdresser and her children immediately bonded with Iggy, E! News reported.

However, rules state DeGeneres should have gotten approval from the adoption agency before giving the dog away.

The animal was confiscated Sunday from its new family's home.

"I thought I did a good thing," DeGeneres said on Tuesday's show. "I tried to find a loving home for the dog because I couldn't keep it."

DeGeneres and her girlfriend Portia de Rossi adopted Iggy Sept. 20 from the Mutts and Moms Dog Rescue agency.

The violation came to light when Mutts and Moms called DeGeneres to follow up on how the dog was adjusting.

"Because I did it wrong, those people went and took that dog out of their home and took it away from those kids," a tearful DeGeneres said. "I feel totally responsible for it, and I'm so sorry. I'm begging them to give that dog back to that family. It's not their fault. It's my fault."