Katherine Heigl Sues Dog Rescue For Defamation Over False Claims

Katherine Heigl and her mother, Nancy, have filed a defamation lawsuit against The Pitty Committee, a California dog rescue organization, alleging that its owner, Alyssa Deetman, engaged in a smear campaign that harmed their charity, the Jason Heigl Foundation (JHF). The Heigls claim that Deetman falsely accused them of mistreating rescue dogs and mismanaging funds, despite previously praising their work. They entered a partnership in January 2023, where JHF donated monthly to TPC in exchange for dog rescues, but opted not to renew the agreement in January 2024 due to concerns over transparency. The lawsuit alleges that Deetman viewed the donations as a 'blank cheque' and requested additional funds outside the agreement. Following the contract's expiration, Deetman allegedly made defamatory statements on social media, claiming that JHF was a scam and attributing the deaths of puppies to the Heigls. The lawsuit seeks to restore the foundation's reputation and hold Deetman accountable for her claims.