That’s quite a situation.
A couple from New York is facing accusations of kidnapping nine dogs from a Westchester shelter owner, who himself is dealing with several complaints from previous customers.
The conflict centers around eight Boxer Shepherd puppies and their mothers.
Chris Fahr, employed in tech, and Sarah Obsterczyk, a former Pilates instructor, are in a legal dispute with Lisa Smith, the 53-year-old president of Good Dog Rescue, a nonprofit in Westchester.
The couple claims that Smith harassed them, shared their personal details, and even issued death threats, forcing them to change their lives when she demanded the return of the dogs they had fostered.
They felt responsible for the puppies’ well-being due to their previous care with Smith.
Smith’s organization asserts that it has saved over 6,000 dogs since its inception in October 2018 and has filed a countersuit, alleging that the dogs were stolen and rightfully belong to them.
death threat
Fahr and Obsterczyk, a couple since September 2011, recounted that the dramatic events began in mid-January 2025 when they saw a Facebook post seeking emergency foster care for a dog named Paisley.
On January 10, 2025, Obsterczyk reached out to Smith, who mentioned that although Paisley was taken away, she had urgent medical needs for her own boxer-shepherd mix, Lily, and ten puppies.
The couple decided to help, and after formally adopting 11 dogs from a Tribeca landlord, they were sent a brief, unsigned adoption agreement without much inquiry from Smith.
“We hadn’t even met her, yet within hours, she wanted us to take in her eleven dogs,” Fahr noted.
A few days later, on a cold January day, Smith sent her daughters to deliver the dogs to the couple’s apartment.
Obsterczyk described the agreement as “bizarrely transactional.”
“We did this solely to support the animals and their welfare,” Fahr explained, referring to the significant amount they spent on supplies.
Initially, two puppies found new homes, with eight—including Lily—remaining with the couple.
anonymous attack
Things began to unravel when the puppies were a few months old. Smith mentioned an “approved adopter in Westchester County” looking for male dogs and requested the couple hand over all the males.
However, in their experience, foster parents generally had a say in such decisions.
Moreover, they were hesitant to surrender the dogs after learning of a past parvovirus outbreak from Smith, which is a severe and contagious disease for dogs.
Fahr expressed, “We simply didn’t feel it was safe to take the dogs back.” They proposed to cover the costs fully but were met with refusal.
(Regarding the parvovirus concerns, Smith acknowledged a past isolated case but insisted that an unrelated outbreak did occur elsewhere in 2024.)
After several intense discussions, Smith allegedly informed Obsterczyk that one of her daughters would collect the dog on March 14, 2025, but they refused to comply.
In response, Smith reportedly shared Obsterczyk and Fahr’s personal details and offered a $2,000 reward for the “safe return” of the dogs, who she claimed were not stolen.
This led to an influx of anonymous threats and harassment directed at the couple.
“If some people can break into the White House, surely others can pry open an apartment to retrieve these dogs,” one comment stated.
The couple’s attorney noted that they received threatening voicemails as well.
change their life forever
Fahr and Obsterczyk shared they were so scared they had to leave Manhattan, taking the dogs with them.
Upstate, Smith solicited information about the couple, claiming they were attempting to sell dogs.
Fahr vehemently dismissed these allegations, insisting, “It’s illogical to think we’d jeopardize our own lives for our puppies.”
The couple has since relocated to an undisclosed location for their safety.
Fahr mentioned that online harassment persists, referring to ongoing social media discussions about forming a “recovery team.” They’ve reported these incidents to law enforcement.
“I can’t wrap my head around why this isn’t considered criminal harassment. We’ve contacted the NYPD, FBI, and various authorities, yet nothing’s been done to ensure our safety,” he remarked.
In April 2025, they filed a civil lawsuit against Smith and Good Dog Rescue for defamation and harassment.
Smith, who is battling metastatic breast cancer, initiated her countersuit to reclaim her “property” and requested donations for her legal expenses.
“I think they’re scammers and just want me to shut up about my dog,” Smith claimed.
The adoption agreement indicated that “the dog belongs to Good Dog Rescue” and stated foster providers had to return the pets upon request, regardless of their state.
unhappy client
Fahr and Obsterczyk aren’t the first to clash with Smith.
Nicole Munro, who adopted a pit bull from Smith, reported an incident where the dog attacked a postman, injuring her severely.
She reached out to Smith, but claims she received harsh responses and was publicly shamed online after returning the dog.
Smith attributed the incident to Munro’s failure to secure the door properly.
In another lawsuit against Smith regarding a different circumstance, a court ruled in favor of a different couple who claimed harassment after seeking medical help for a dog adopted from her.
Smith had previously filed a breach of contract suit but later dropped it.
See more dog dramas
Smith’s rescue efforts have faced scrutiny as well.
In July 2023, noise complaints halted her operations at another site, due to disputes with her landlord.
The town of New Castle eventually cited her for having more dogs than allowed at her residence and for running an unauthorized rescue at home. Smith faced penalties but maintained her innocence regarding any rules she might have violated.
She remains firm in her position that the nine dogs in question are hers.
“This is straightforward. They are my dogs, and I want them back,” she stated.
A recent ruling favored Smith, requiring the couple to return one dog, while also stopping her from disclosing their information publicly.
Yet, the couple appealed and, on May 12, 2026, achieved a unanimous appellate victory, sending their defamation case back to the lower court.
“The dog still legally belongs to the rescue group.”
Smith’s attorney declined to comment on future legal actions but asserted that “this is simply a case of the dog being stolen.”
He confirmed that the dogs still legally belong to the shelter.
Fahr and Obsterczyk have left New York for good but withheld specific details about their new location for safety reasons, insisting the dogs are thriving.
“We never imagined our attempt to help could lead to death threats,” Fahr concluded.
