Allegan, MI ... Earlier this year, volunteer fireman Don Smith rescued five, starving and seemingly abandoned dogs from the mid-winter's snow and cold at a friend's rental property. Mr. Smith, along with his wife and their friend, had been feeding, watering and comforting the dogs - who had been living without adequate heat, food or water - for 10 days prior to rescuing them. After posting signs, and seeing no physical evidence that other people had been taking care of the dogs, Mr. Smith rescued the dogs and took them to a veterinarian for care.

Much to his surprise, two days after rescuing the dogs, Mr. Smith saw signs at a local supermarket declaring the dogs had been stolen. Mr. Smith immediately called the local police to alert them that he had the abandoned dogs and he was taking care of them. However, when he refused to return the dogs to someone who would keep them in such conditions, he soon learned that the dogs' "owner" - who was allegedly using them as part of her backyard breeding operation - was suing him for theft.

"I was absolutely astounded that someone could leave five dogs out in the cold and snow of a Michigan winter without food, water or adequate heat. I just had to rescue these dogs. I am convinced that if we were not out there everyday, taking care of them in the harshest of conditions, that they would have most certainly been dead by now. I just couldn't sit idly by and wait for them to die," said Smith.

Mr. Smith and his wife almost immediately adopted two of the dogs - who were subsequently spayed by their new guardians. After learning that the two dogs had been spayed and adopted, the breeder is now suing Mr. Smith in District Court for financial compensation.

"I will stick by my convictions that I did the right thing for these poor dogs," said Smith. "There was no way that I was going to leave them living in the squalid conditions that they were in. It was just disgusting - there were dead and rotting animals around in the barns and feces was everywhere."

"When we found out that someone would accuse a fireman and his wife of stealing abandoned dogs, we felt compelled to help pay for the legal fees of these honorable and courageous people," said Elliot Katz, DVM, president of IDA.

To help defray costs, IDA has established a legal defense fund for Mr. Smith and his wife. Donations can be made to: In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941.