Katherine Heigl’s Dog Rescue War Turns Personal: $350K Dispute Sparks Accusations of Smear Campaign and Retaliation.
What started as a shared mission to save dogs has spiraled into a bitter legal feud between Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl and fellow animal rescuer Alyssa Faith Deetman — a battle now laced with allegations of fraud, defamation, and public retaliation.
At the heart of the dispute is nearly $350,000 that Deetman says she paid out of pocket on behalf of the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, which Heigl co-founded with her mother, Nancy Heigl, in memory of Katherine’s late brother. The foundation, launched in 2008, works to rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and give them a second shot at life — but according to Deetman, they left her footing the bill.
From Partnership to Fallout
Deetman, who runs The Pitty Committee, says she was invited to collaborate with the Heigls in 2023 under what she describes as a verbal agreement. The deal? Her rescue would take in dogs selected by Nancy Heigl, and the foundation would pay $1,000 per animal — plus reimburse vet bills, boarding, training, and other costs. While the $1,000 per dog reportedly came through, Deetman alleges that she’s still owed hundreds of thousands for the rest.
After months of asking for reimbursement, she claims she was not only stonewalled but targeted. In her court filing, Deetman accuses the Heigls and their nonprofit of launching a retaliatory smear campaign that damaged her standing in the dog rescue world — a tight-knit community where reputation makes or breaks survival.
And according to Deetman, she’s not alone.
“I’m not the only rescue group this has happened to,” she stated in a sworn declaration, alleging that other organizations involved with the foundation “had almost identical problems.”
Heigls Fire Back: “This Was a Smear Campaign Against Us”
The Heigls, meanwhile, aren’t staying silent. They countersued in Los Angeles, alleging that Deetman breached their contract and went rogue with requests for additional funds outside the agreed scope. According to their legal team, she was offered generous monthly payments in exchange for a set number of dog rescues — a deal that expired earlier this year.
But instead of a clean break, the Heigls allege that Deetman took to social media with false and damaging claims. They say she publicly accused them of mistreating dogs and withholding promised funding — all, they argue, to coerce a payout and “trade on Katherine Heigl’s celebrity.”
“Instead of gratitude,” their lawsuit reads, “[Alyssa] attempted to capitalize and trade on Katherine Heigl’s name in the animal rescue world.”
They’re now seeking damages and demanding that Deetman delete the social media posts.
Deetman Responds: “I Spoke Up Because I Had No Other Choice”
In her legal response, Deetman insists her posts were made only after private efforts failed. She argues her speech is constitutionally protected, characterizing it as opinion and criticism tied to a matter of public interest: transparency and ethics in the nonprofit sector.
“The only reason I spoke publicly was to correct the record,” Deetman said. “They were smearing me quietly for months. I finally responded — and now I’m the one being sued?”
Her legal team describes the countersuit as “plainly retaliatory,” noting its timing aligned closely with her original lawsuit and alleging it was designed to “discredit and intimidate.”
A Pattern or a One-Off?
Deetman’s most damning claim might be that this wasn’t a fluke. She says she’s spoken to other rescue groups with similar experiences — promises of funding that evaporated, invoices that went unpaid, and reputations quietly damaged when they asked too many questions.
Whether those claims hold up in court remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that a partnership rooted in good intentions has collapsed into a bitter back-and-forth — one that could ripple through the rescue world far beyond the Hollywood spotlight.
People Also Ask (PAA)
How many children did Katherine Heigl give birth to?
Katherine Heigl has three children, two of whom are adopted and one biological daughter, named Joshua, Adalaide, and Nancy Leigh (Naleigh).
Who is the husband of Katherine Heigl?
Katherine Heigl is married to musician Josh Kelley. The couple tied the knot in 2007.
Where does Katherine Heigl live currently?
Heigl currently resides on a ranch in Utah, where she has embraced a quieter life with her family, away from the Hollywood spotlight.
Did Josh Duhamel get along with Katherine Heigl?
Reports suggest that while filming Life As We Know It, Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl maintained a professional relationship, despite rumored on-set tension.
