Rural Minnesota veterinarian gets $1.5 million in dispute over miniature pony herd

A rural Minnesota veterinarian will get nearly $1.5 million in a dispute over a herd of miniature ponies that were taken from a pony farm. A Martin County jury delivered the verdict Wednesday after a civil court trial.

Dr. Shirley Kittleson had sued the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota, claiming it owed her the money after she cared for more than 70 miniature ponies that a Humane Society investigator had removed in 2018 from a southern Minnesota pony farm where they were allegedly being mistreated.

Kittleson, who has run a veterinary clinic outside Sherburn in south-central Minnesota for more than 40 years, was charging $25 a day per horse. The Animal Humane Society refused to pay, saying it was the responsibility of the pony farm owner. With the meter ticking at nearly $1,800 a day, the bill grew quickly.

According to the verdict, the Animal Humane Society must pay Kittleson $1,498,375. The group has assets of about $32 million, according to its latest federal tax filing.

The organization said it will appeal the verdict and criticized Kittleson for making the horses "pawns" in the case.

"We are deeply disappointed that the jury seemed to follow their emotions instead of the evidence and the law in this case," the group said in a statement. "We vehemently dispute this verdict."

The statement said Kittleson "sought a large and unreasonable payout from a respected nonprofit organization that is devoted to helping animals. We know our humane agents acted in good faith, both in assisting law enforcement with the removal of the horses and in their dealings with Kittleson."

Kathy Mock, an Animal Humane Society spokeswoman, said the organization repeatedly tried to resolve the situation. She said the group offered to take the horses back from Kittleson or give her ownership. But Mock said she refused, all the while sending bills each month for tens of thousands of dollars in boarding fees.

Kittleson was performing surgery Thursday and unavailable for comment. Mankato attorney Cory Genelin, who represented Kittleson, said the message of the verdict is clear.

"I think it's as simple as the fact that organizations have to pay their bills," he said. "I knew that [Kittleson] was going to get paid something. But I was worried that because this number was so big, [the jury would think] it was unreasonable and that the bill was Dr. Kittleson's fault."

Genelin said he was able to show that $25 was a fair daily fee and that the Animal Humane Society had agreed to be responsible for payment when it removed the horses from the pony farm.

The fate of the horses is now up to Kittleson. During the course of the lawsuit, the organization signed over ownership to her, Mock said, so Kittleson is free to do what she pleases with the herd.