The Storm Lake City Council has upheld another vicious animal order — this time involving an August dog bite that sent a man to the emergency room.
The council heard an appeal Tuesday evening from Flor Martinez, whose dogs were declared vicious by City Manager Keri Navratil after an Aug. 20 incident on Larchwood Drive. Police say the two dogs — both rottweilers being taken for a walk — bit Jacob Baxter as he was also walking in the neighborhood, causing puncture wounds that required treatment at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Navratil’s written decision also noted the animals were not current on rabies vaccinations and did not have valid city licenses at the time, both violations under city code.
Martinez, speaking through interpreter Christina Medina, told the council she did not want to lose her dogs and insisted they were not aggressive.
She said people often assume certain breeds are dangerous, but argued her dogs were raised gently and had not shown aggression toward her own children or relatives.
Council member Maggie Martinez pressed the issue directly, asking whether the bite itself was being disputed. Medina, speaking for Flor Martinez, acknowledged the incident but defended the dogs’ temperament.
Maggie Martinez noted the victim was an adult who could defend himself, and said a child might not have been able to.
She then broadened her concerns, saying this is the third or fourth dangerous dog case she has seen since joining the council.
Maggie Martinez said residents should not feel unsafe walking in their own neighborhoods and described recently seeing someone carrying a baseball bat on Lakeshore Drive out of fear of being bitten.
Flor Martinez told the council she understood their concerns but emphasized her dogs interact safely with children in her own family. She acknowledged the dogs were not up to date on vaccinations, which required the victim to undergo rabies treatment.
After asking whether any additional police testimony was needed, the council declined and moved to a vote. The motion to affirm Navratil’s declaration passed unanimously, 4–0.
Under Storm Lake’s dangerous and vicious animal ordinance, the dogs must now be removed from city limits. Flor Martinez asked whether she could relocate them elsewhere, and the council confirmed they may be moved outside Storm Lake but cannot remain within city boundaries.
