First off, if the hairdresser's kids bonded with the dog, let's try to get them the dog back.  It seems only right.

But, now from the perspective of the rescue organization.  

They're run almost exclusively by volunteers and out of their own pockets.  These folks do it for the love of the animals.  A prime motivation is to prevent suffering and provide homes for perfectly-good and loving animals which would ordinarily be destroyed because the people who bought them either didn't know what they were getting into (e.g., the kids liked "101 Dalmatians", so they wanted and got a Dalmatian, not appreciating those dogs are bred to run alongside coaches upward of 50 miles a day every day and go destructively nuts without that exercise) or didn't bother to find out or had to give the animal up for a wholly-human reason (like divorce, death in the family, moving).  And, they want to avoid the animals winding up being sold for laboratory fodder.

I've gotten two dogs - setters - from rescue.  Both times, the rescue was run by the local "chapter" of the AKC-recognized breed organization.  They made me fill out the questionnaire and, initially, had some doubts about my ability to keep a dog of the breed because I didn't have a fenced-yard (living in a city as I do).  The upshot of that was my being "guided" to adopt the sweetheart of a dog who was over 10 y/o when she came into rescue (and didn't need quite as much exercise or room).  They wanted to see how I handled the dog.  They wanted to meet me and see how the dog and I got along.  And then there were vet bills and all the rest that goes with an older dog.  But, they understood I and the dog got along well.  That I did, in fact, have enough room for the dog.  That she would be well cared-for.  Etcetera.

After that dog came down with cancer and had to be put down, a couple months went by and the rescue called me, with the possibility of adopting another dog - which had gone through two or three trial adoptions which did not work at all.  (I think she ate the cat in one of them.  Cats are prey to her.)  And I adopted that dog, who lies snoring at (or on) my feet while I write many of the comments that appear here.

To make sure their purposes are fulfilled, the rescue organizations have their contracts, which include the "return the dog to the rescue and not give it to someone else" provision Ellen ran afoul of.  That's so these pets don't wind up in places like the hellhole of the dog dealer's kennel portrayed in the HBO movie Dealing Dogs.  Because, while Ellen may have been honest and all about her reasons for giving the dog away, that is not necessarily the case.  And the rescue organizations, particularly when they have spent a lot of time, money and love rehabbing or caring for a dog, are entitled to make sure that dog does not wind up sent to a hell.

The shelter that I worked with was terrible - they were the most unprofessional, unforgiving organization that I have ever seen.  They told me that I was required to give the dog back (which is fine... that was in the contract), yet they wouldn't let me give the dog back, and when they did they tried to force me to pay a $100 "surrender" fee (which most definitely was not in the contract).  

The hairdresser wasn't screened, so the agency has no idea if that person would be a kind and loving owner.

all they can do is guess, based on responses to a questionaire, filled in by the individuals themselves. it's not like they do follow-up visits or anything.

they could have also done an expedited screening, had they any sense at all. it would have required far fewer resources, than getting the dog back did.

Is the dog being fed and cared for?  If yes, what the hell is the problem?