Katherine Heigl sues animal charity after owner accuses Hollywood star of animal neglect in wild post

Katherine Heigl is suing an animal charity after its owner took to social media to make wild claims about the Hollywood star.

Actress Katherine Heigl is suing a California dog rescue organisation for defamation after it made some wild accusations about her on social media, and in its own lawsuit.

Heigl, who has a passion for animal rights, founded an animal rescue operation named after the her late brother, who died in 2008, which aims to stop healthy dogs from being put down.

In 2023, Heigl’s foundation entered into an agreement with The Pitty Committee, which stated it would donate cash in exchange for the rescue of a particular number of dogs from certain death.

Katherine Heigl is locked in a bitter legal battle with an animal charity who has accused her of locking up dogs in small cages. Picture: Getty

According to Daily Mail, The Pitty Committee filed a lawsuit claiming the star owed almost $350,000 in unreimbursed funds that were used to rescue 120 dogs.

Heigl has now countersued the organisation and its owner, Alyssa Deetman, claiming that she treated their donations as a “blank cheque” before engaging in a “smear campaign” against her after she decided to not renew their agreement in 2023.

In a screenshot of a TikTok post included in the complaint, Deetman labelled Heigl’s foundation “a scam”.

“Another celebrity phony who uses animal advocacy as a shield,” read the post.

Deetman then alleged that the foundation “stick (the dogs) into tiny kennels where they are forgotten about.”

The social media post also accused Heigl of putting dogs in small cages, and even being responsible for the deaths of two puppies.

Heigl runs an animal charity in honour of her late brother who passed away in 2008. Picture: Instagram.

“(Twenty-four) of their dogs found in boarding in small kennels,” the organisation claimed in the post about Heigl.

“These dogs get barely any enrichment or attention. It’s a horrific place to keep animals and they should be ashamed! Especially having ZERO PLAN during a fire.”

The post continued: “They have stolen $379,000 from my rescue and they (sell) their products in stores claiming they change animals lives with the proceeds! Instead they rescue dogs and stick them into tiny kennels where they are forgotten about.”

In response to some the wild claims, a lawyer for the Heigls told DailyMail.com: “The complaint filed yesterday by JHF and the Heigls speaks for itself and addresses false accusations and defamatory statements, including the allegations from the baseless lawsuit filed against them.

“JHF and the Heigls remain dedicated to animal advocacy and will continue to do incredible work for the rescue industry.”