Resident urges Black Hawk County to adopt dangerous‑dog ordinance after repeated attacks on his pets

A Waterloo‑area resident asked the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on June 30 to create a county dangerous‑dog ordinance after recounting repeated incidents in which a neighbor’s dog entered his property and injured his animals.

“My name is Dan Putri. I live at 1443 North Raymond Road in Black Hawk County,” Putri said during the public‑comment period, describing episodes over roughly a decade. He told the board one incident in 2022 required his dog’s tail to be amputated and a more recent attack required eight stitches. “I need to figure out what I have to do. I’m justified to use lethal force to protect my dog from their neighbor’s dog,” he said, adding he does not want to take that step while there is no county policy to address the problem.

Supervisors and staff discussed existing remedies under Iowa law and the county’s contract with the local humane society. A staff member noted that Iowa Code chapter 351 addresses impoundment for animals running at large without proof of rabies vaccination but does not create a general “dangerous‑animal” ordinance for counties. County staff and prosecutors told the board municipalities commonly adopt local dangerous‑dog ordinances that establish tiered responses — fines, impoundment, and seizure for serious injuries — whereas the state code centers on rabies tagging and running‑at‑large rules.

Supervisors also asked staff to review the county’s rural animal‑control contract and what enforcement options exist under that agreement. Marketing coordinator Gabby Dit — who manages county social pages and helped present the proposed social‑media contract later in the meeting — also encouraged reviewing the humane‑society contract language to confirm the agency’s obligations for rural calls.

Board members expressed sympathy and said they supported looking into an ordinance and researching enforcement mechanisms. One supervisor suggested a work session or follow‑up meeting with Sheriff’s Office staff; Chief Deputy Jason Tronis, present later in the meeting for another item, signaled the sheriff’s office would support engineering a public‑safety‑focused approach.

Next steps: supervisors asked staff to compile options including the humane‑society contract terms, the scope of Iowa Code chapter 351, and draft language for a county ordinance or other enforceable remedies. The board did not adopt policy at the meeting; staff were asked to return with recommendations.