Well, we’re getting informed word that said sitch was worse than the whole Iggy fiasco. Not long ago, Rebecca and Jerry O'Connell adopted a German shepherd pup from a rescue group. These groups make routine follow-up calls to make sure everything’s running smoothly with the new pets and owners. Apparently, a month or so after getting the dog, the group called to check on the pup’s progress.
“Rebecca told them that the dog was sick and died,” said our canine source. “The rescue group was obviously horrified, [but] she seemed totally blasé about the incident.”
It got even uglier. Supposedly, Rebecca had signed a contract stating if there were ever a problem or illness with the dog, the rescue peeps were supposed to be called immediately—but they weren’t, so we’re told. Then, the rescuers (who, admittedly, can be wildly overzealous at times, but sometimes with good cause) demanded to get Romijn’s vet’s info. When contacted, the doggie doc refused to disclose what happened or turn over the pooch’s charts, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Doesn’t that only apply to humans?
We contacted R.R.’s rep, who said not a lot of the above info is true:
“[Rebecca and Jerry] did adopt a dog and, sadly, the dog was very sick and subsequently passed away,” confirmed the Romijn spokesdude. The flack further elaborated: “Rebecca involved the SPCA in the matter, as the organization gave them a dog that was seriously ill and apparently did not have all of the proper permits. Rebecca and Jerry were heartbroken.”
When we pressed the pro mouther on what happened, and whether or not Romijn was contractually (and morally, we might add) bound to notify the rescuers they’d been given what she’s claiming was a seriously ill pet, he replied:
"[Rebecca and Jerry] did try and get in touch with the organization, and they (the organization) refused to speak with them. Rebecca and Jerry took the dog to six different doctors and each doctor recommended the measures."
What measures? What did the sweet pup die of? Why is the rescue saying the critter was fine, when Rebecca says it wasn’t?"The bottom line," summed up the Romijn repper, "is this rescue group adopted out a terminally ill dog."
A spokesperson for the SPCA then contacted the Awful Truth forthwith, saying they had investigated the matter, found no wrong-doing on Rebecca and Jerry’s part, and that the matter was "closed.”
Uh, don’t think so. ‘Cause, look, all we’re trying to do here is help those who help animals that would otherwise be killed by institutions—ironically, the SPCA euthanizes animals, the rescue group that Romijn originally dealt with does not, but that’s not the entire point, really. Nope, that issue would be rescue folks who volunteer their time aiding unwanted animals, and make no profit at it, say their rep is being besmirched (shades of Iggy). Rebecca—who, when we checked around, were told has a very good rep, previously, in the animal rescue world—says she’s getting the shaft here. Who the hell’s telling the truth?
Jerry, could you please put that awesomely muscled bod of yours to work here and help us out, already?
When the gut-belting gal took the stage, she did one song from her upcoming album, one from Dreamgirls and even one hit from Whitney Houston. “She had the crowd of 300 people roaring,“ gabbed one partyer at the rooftop performance. “You could hear her singing all the way down the elevator shaft!”
Oh, Whit-babe, better get that long, long-awaited (and overly machinated) return to the Biz in overdrive, now. Don’t want all these young babes stealin’ your comeback thunder, do ya?
Get the Blind Vice!