[ChrisGoldstein]

Iowa councilman's dog stolen from animal shelter

By MELANIE S. WELTE | Associated Press Writer 4:32 PM CDT, August 3, 2009 DES MOINES, Iowa - The odd story of Sioux City Councilman Aaron Rochester's dog, Jake, has taken another strange twist.

First there was the news in June that a dog belonging to the councilman had been seized after biting a man and being deemed vicious. That councilman had helped lead a successful effort last year to ban pit bull terriers from Sioux City, saying they were too dangerous.

Now Jake has been stolen from an outdoor kennel at Sioux City Animal Control.

There were other dogs with Jake when someone broke in Sunday afternoon, but the 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever was the only animal taken.




"It sounds like they cut through fences and chains," police Lt. Mark Kirkpatrick said Monday.

There are no suspects, and Rochester was adamant that he didn't take his dog and has no idea who did.

"Am I surprised? Yes. Am I shocked? No," he said.

Rochester said his dog has become front-page news in Sioux City. Many people have taken up the cause to save him and have asked the city to amend its vicious animal ordinance, which says an animal declared vicious must be euthanized.

The ordinance that Rochester sought last year dealt with the separate issue of banning pit bull terriers.

Rochester said he has been questioned by the police, adding that whoever took his dog committed a crime.

"Nobody has sent me an e-mail or dropped me a letter or gave me a phone call saying, 'Hey, Jake's safe so don't worry about it,"' he said.

The councilman has appealed Animal Control's decision twice, and has until Aug. 16 to appeal again. He said Jake's fate is in the city's hands, and that he would not challenge the city in district court.

He said he has left it up to Animal Control to eventually euthanize the dog if no changes in the law are made. "I was hoping provisions would be made where he could be saved," he said. "That's my hope."

Rochester said the City Council has not acted.

"Everybody is afraid of public perception because my dog was involved," he said. "My dog has gotten so much press that they don't want anything to look suspicious or that I'm getting some kind of a favorable treatment."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,4265831.story

[RerRibreLok]

Crazy.

[girlsround]

His wording seemed strange IMO..."suprised, but not shocked"....i dont trust politicians tho...

[AmericaAirline 111]

wow,thats not at all suspicious.

[enasseneiff]

What?!

He said it's OK if his dog is euthe'd, except that it is stolen??

And he helped push the BSL??

I am very confused. Some thing is missing here.