Patriots for Pets leader ordered to return adopted dog

Owner accused of abuse sues

One chapter of a bizarre pet adoption case has ended, but another has opened.

Last week a Cerro Gordo County magistrate judge ruled in favor of a Jewell, Iowa man whose dog was confiscated by Patriots for Pets Coordinator Debbie Kern, of Clear Lake.  This week Kern and the Patriots for Pets organization were sued by Justin Deppe, seeking attorney fees and an unspecified amount in punitive damages for pain and suffering.

Last month Kern, 57, refused to turn over Deppe’s nine-month-old shepherd mix dog and was ordered into custody under no bond until a judge’s order to release the dog was fulfilled.

After a three-hour hearing Wednesday, Oct. 7, Magistrate Judge Patrick Byrne ruled that Kern had been misled by Deppe’s ex-wife, the ex-wife’s spouse and one of their friends and allowed Deppe to keep the dog.

Kern had picked up the dog from Deppe’s ex-wife’s home, claiming that Deppe had violated the terms of his April 2015 adoption contract by abandoning the dog. Kern brought the dog back to the shelter and refused to give it back to Deppe.

Deppe is now accusing Patriots for Pets of violating a pet adoption contract by unlawfully taking away his dog.  He is seeking attorney fees and an unspecified amount in punitive damages for pain and suffering.