MAXWELL, Iowa —

In the Maxwell City Council chambers Wednesday evening, Mayor Dale Higgins sparked backlash by saying he would personally shoot loose animals in town.

"I'll run around town, shoot the animals, I don't care. I have the authority," Higgins said.

Higgins said he has had enough of stray dogs and argued owners must keep pets under control.

"It's responsibility," he said, adding that dogs that run off property or threaten others are "not in control."

He also complained that the council has spent too long on the issue.

"I'm tired of talking about dogs. We've wasted three months on this," Higgins said.

Some residents objected.

At the city dog park, lifelong Maxwell resident Miranda Cory said, "Violence is not the course that we should be taking."

Cory, who was with one of

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