CLEAR LAKE – A person connected to a local animal rescue shelter has been jailed for refusing to turn over a dog to its owner.
According to the Cerro Gordo sheriff’s office, a deputy went to Patriots for Pets, 805 North 40th Street in Clear Lake, to serve a judge’s order. Rescue coordinator Deb Kern, age 57, refused to turn over a 9-month-old shepherd mix per the court order.
Kern was then arrested and taken to the county jail after the judge was consulted, until the order is fulfilled. She will be held until the dog is turned over to its owner.
According to a message NIT received from Patriots for Pets Monday evening at about 8:10 PM, “Dog was reported as abused by adopter and was abandoned at ex-wifes house for three to four weeks. We were contacted and got in touch with the ex-wife (who is the vet in Jewell). She gave the dog back to Patriots yesterday. The dog was placed in a safe place and Debbie refused to return the dog upon order of the Court. Debbie was ordered held without bail until she released the dog to the Sheriff. Court date is set for October 7th at 1:30 p.m. Patriot’s was not notified of the hearing today or allowed to present any evidence. Request was made to the Judge to put the dog in protective custody until the hearing and Debbie offered to personally pay for it – the Judge refused.”
UPDATE: from Deb Kern: “Yes I am out. We had to release the animal to the Sheriff – who returned it to Justin (Deppe)”.
There will be a hearing in October 7th at 1:30 PM. According to Patriots for Pets, Deppe is seeking $5,000 in damages. He is a lawyer from Jewel, Iowa.
