Judge returns service dog to disabled veteran

SIOUX CITY - A federal judge has ruled an Aurelia couple can have their dog back.

U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett ruled in favor of James Sak and Peggy Leifer Wednesday, ruling the city of Aurelia failed to show it would suffer substantial harm by the couple's dog, a pit bull mix named Snickers.

Sak's disability has him in a wheelchair and he depends on the service dog, who is certified under the National Service Animal Registry, for "safety, mobility, and independence," according to the release.

A city ordinance bans pit bulls but the couple argued the dog acts as a service dog for Sak, who has been disabled since a 2008 stroke. Snickers is a pit bull, lab boxer mix and the couple sought an injunction claiming Snickers should be exempt from the city's ban.

The city can appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court.

According to Kim Wolf, Animal Farm Foundation community engagement specialist, the animal is to be returned to Sak's residence later this afternoon.