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Storm Lake council affirms city manager; orders two dogs removed after bite incidents
Summary
After hearing testimony and reviewing police reports, the Storm Lake City Council on July 6 affirmed the city manager’s decisions that two dogs were vicious and must be removed from city limits; the council cited a 2020 attack and separate 2026 incidents in its rulings.
The Storm Lake City Council on July 6 heard two separate appeals of city manager orders declaring dogs vicious and voted to affirm both orders, requiring the animals to be removed from city limits.
In the first appeal, officers recounted an April 30, 2020 incident in which a then-puppy named Simba — a German shepherd mix — jumped a chain-link kennel and inflicted large lacerations on a 6-year-old that required multiple staples. Police also detailed a June 16, 2026 incident in which officers responded to an aggressive dog attempting to enter a residence; officers used pepper spray and, later, tranquilizer darts to subdue the animal before it was contained. The owner, Paola Martinez, submitted letters describing the dog’s positive role in the household and the dog’s service to family members; the council nevertheless voted to affirm the city manager’s decision ordering Simba removed from the city of Storm Lake.
In a second hearing, officer testimony described a June 15, 2026 bite in which an 8-year-old was bitten in the leg by a black-and-white pit-bull mix named Pinta. The responding officer said the owner failed to provide proof of rabies vaccination or a city license; the victim’s mother read a letter urging that the dog not be euthanized and said the child had recovered. The council again voted to affirm the city manager’s finding and ordered the dog removed from city limits, with the council noting that failure to comply with removal deadlines could lead to euthanasia under the local code.
Police and staff emphasized their concern for public safety and detailed operational steps taken during the responses, including use of a tranquilizer gun and shelter quarantine procedures. The council directed that written decisions be prepared and filed by the city clerk within three days, per code.
Both appeals referenced the city code chapter on dangerous and vicious animals; council rulings were recorded by roll call and will be followed by written orders to the appellants.
