An elderly Wurtsboro couple is fighting with their town to get their dog back.

Annie and Ed Schneider say the Town of Mamakating is holding their newly adopted dog Ziggy "for ransom" after it got loose on Friday.

The couple claims an official notified them Saturday that the dog was turned over to a local shelter and that in order to get it back, they have to pay $300. They say they feel the fine is excessive and that they simply can't afford to pay it. "So no senior citizen or poor person can have a dog because if it steps away they're going to get charged $300? I just feel helpless here. I don't know how to get the dog back. It's just not right," says Annie Schneider.

News 12 calls to the Town of Mamakating have not been returned.