A Sioux City councilman says he plans to appeal a police department ruling that his dog is vicious.

Councilman Aaron Rochester's yellow Labrador retriever bit a man who was walking by Rochester's home on June 27. The man required five stitches on his thumb. An animal control officer deemed that the dog was vicious and Rochester appealed.

Police Capt. Pete Groetken says information he gathered led to his ruling that the dog is vicious. Such a decision could cause Rochester's dog to be euthanized.

Rochester says his dog was only trying to protect family members in his yard. He says he plans to appeal the police department's decision.

Rochester pushed for pit bull terriers to be banned from the city, saying they were too dangerous.