The Mower County Board revisited the designation of a dangerous dog recommendation that was made by the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and voted to uphold the notice during Tuesday’s special session.

Commissioner Tim Gabrielson moved to uphold the recommendation, with Commissioner Polly Glynn seconding the motion. The county board voted unanimously (Commissioner Tony Bennett was absent) to maintain the dangerous dog recommendation, but stated that Sheriff Terese Amazi would have the ability to lower the level of the notice to a “potentially dangerous dog.”

This hearing was a continuation of the discussion that was held last Tuesday, after dog owners Bryton Bustad and Savannah Hernandez made an appeal to the county commissioners about removing the dangerous dog designation that was placed on their dog, Lola.

On Aug. 6, a Mower County deputy was dispatched to the 2000 block of South Main Street after receiving a call involving two stray dogs that were allegedly chasing animals at the residence, according to a previous story. When the deputy arrived at the scene, he noticed a 16-gauge shotgun on the back cover of a pick-up truck.

Jeffrey Rickerl had told the deputy that the dogs killed eight of his Manchurian Golden Pheasants valuing at $5,000, and he shot at them after they allegedly charged him.

The grey male dog named Loki was killed, but Lola had fled from the scene. Owners Bryton Bustad and Savannah Hernandez had appealed to the Mower County Board during a public hearing earlier last week and asked them to throw out the sheriff’s notice that deemed Lola to be a dangerous dog,

If a dog is deemed dangerous, then the owner must obtain insurance for that dog that could amount to at least $300,000 and pay an annual fee of not more than $500, in addition to any regular dog licensing fees, and obtain a certificate of registration for the dangerous dog.

The dog must also be microchipped and be in a proper enclosure with visible warning signs.

It was previously reported that the couple had apologized to Rickerl for the pheasants and expressed that they’d be willing to compensate him for the damages inflicted, but did not believe Lola should be designated as a dangerous dog.