Cascade council affirms 'vicious' designation after heated public hearing

Cascade City Council voted on Nov. 24, 2025 to classify a neighborhood German shepherd as "vicious" after an extended public hearing in which the dog's owners and several neighbors presented conflicting accounts.

The motion to declare the dog vicious was made by Council Member Delaney and seconded by Council Member Oliphant. The roll call recorded in the transcript shows Oliphant — Aye; Weber — Aye; Hush — Nay; Gail — Aye; Delaney — Aye; presiding official — Aye. The motion carried.

The owners, who identified themselves in the meeting as Molly Pecoric and her partner Cole Huffman, said the city's handling of the matter lacked due process. Pecoric told the council that the first incident occurred in June when a neighbor approached her husband and the dog "nipped" at the neighbor's shirt. She said a second incident on July 3 resulted in a bruise and later a hematoma for the neighbor, but she said Cascade police were not on duty that day and the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department handled the response. Pecoric said she offered to pay medical expenses,…