By Doug La Rocque
Three weeks ago, New York State Police seized 16 dogs, including four puppies, from the Jay Hakes Road home of 83-year-old Ed Maxfield in Grafton. Troopers indicated they acted out of concern for the dogs, as night time temperatures then were 20 degrees below or better. The animals had been chained outside, and although well fed, lacked water because of the freezing temperatures.
[private]Speaking with The Eastwick Press, Maxfield said he was hospitalized at the time, but that his son Ed had been feeding the animals twice a day and providing them with water. Maxfield said he had bought insulated coops for the dogs, with straw spread out inside to keep them warm.
Maxfield’s son said he was at the trailer home the night the dogs were seized. He tells The Eastwick Press that troopers told him that if he did not sign over custody of the animals, he would be arrested. The younger Maxfield signed the dogs over to the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, but his father contends the action is not binding. Maxfield Sr. said he is the owner of the animals, and coerced by troopers or not, his son had no legal authority to sign over the dogs.
Maxfield, however, is only asking for the six oldest dogs to be returned to him. He said they are between 16 and 25 years old, and he knows they cannot be adopted out at that age, and he fears they will be put down. He said he is not asking for the younger animals, and hopes the shelter can find them good homes. Maxfield is not sure yet if he will start legal action to have the dogs returned.
“I want the public to hear my side of the story,” he said. He said the animals have been outside all their lives, and that he has always kept them well-fed and in humane living conditions. “I invite any members of the public to come to my home and see for themselves that I am telling the truth.”[/private]