As we predicted, we knew the whole Kate and Jon Gosselin divorce thing was going to get as messy as a cart full of cow poop.

And over the weekend, the crap really did start to fly after party-lovin' dad-of-eight Jon allegedly ''removed'' more than $200,000 big ones from the couple's joint bank account.

This morning Kate pleaded poverty on live TV...and then set the dogs on her soon-to-be ex in the courts.

Lawyers filed a petition in Montgomery County Court to get the ''missing'' moolah back ASAP.

Seems like Jon wants the money to pay for his new life style as a young, free and single man about New York, LA and Reading.

And Kate, of course, needs to be able to keep up with her tanning sessions and trips to the manicurist.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the kids need to be fed and the nannies charge by the hour while Jon and Kate try to further their careers.

More pictures of Kate(minus the eight and Jon)in NY today...