Outrage over adopted boy

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A 7-year-old boy was sent back to Russia by his adoptive mom in Tennessee.

The single mother claimed he was violent, unstable and even threatened to burn the house down, but local adoption officials say there is no excuse.

Marla Allisan, the founder and director of A Full Circle in Northampton said her agency has successfully placed more than 200 children, many internationally, in happy homes.

But, it's important for parents to know what they're getting into.

"Being an adoptive parent means that not only do you have the love, but you understand that there are skills associated with parenting that are important to have so that you don't assume that love is going to heal all the issues that a child who has spent their lives in orphanages or in another county might come home with," said Allisan.

Adoptions are not always successful, but cases like the Tennessee mother's are rare.

Still millions of American families, adopting Russian orphans now worry they will not be allowed to bring those children home.

"Unfortunately when you have a bad case like this anywhere in the country or the world it sort of casts a shadow over all adoption but we hope that they do an appropriate investigation in the Tennessee case," said Allisan.