neighbors unleashed dog bit ANOTHER one of our dogs, critical condition

Hi, thanks in advance for reading! I’ve already posted on legal advice and understand by Iowa law the owners of dog will need to pay medical bills but wanted to get some advice locally to see if there is anything we can do beyond what we’ve already done as this is the second time and not the only 2 instances of this dog being aggressive.

My mom and step dad have lived in Cumming since 2020, so technically Dallas County. When they first moved my mom was on a walk with one of our dogs (leashed) and the neighbor (across the street and to the left) dog (large breed) got loose and bit our dog (small breed). Our dog needed emergency surgery and was bleeding internally. She lived until a few months ago but was never the same and went into cardiac failure one night). Dog owners wouldn’t take responsibility and pay for medical expenses initially. Mom made police report and alerted neighbors, apparently this dog is known to be aggressive in development as this wasn’t its first time biting another dog and our neighbors directly across from us keep a bat at back door bc the owners do not have good control of it and it will get loose and wander in their yard and they have kids as it has ran at children in neighborhood when families are out for walks.Weve been told there is an electric fence but clearly the dog doesn’t care about the shock or it’s not on…

This morning my step dad was taking our leashed dog for a walk and the same dog was loose and ran up again ( this time farther down the road the opposite direction of their house… we purposely don’t walk in front of their property due to the first experience ) and bit our dog. Guy claims he told my step dad to pick up dog but my stepdad is hard of hearing and also has earbuds in during walks..

Dog was in emergency vet for 6 hours before they transferred him to Iowa State… he’s awaiting surgery. They had to put down a very large deposit. Feels like we are in twilight zone. I feel so bad for my mom, having to relive this again with another dog is awful. Police report was made to Dallas County sheriff but they said bc it was dog on dog all they can do is file it as it didn’t bite a person. Emergency vet is also filing report as they saw our other dog thru this same situation a few years ago. But it feels like there needs to be more. Obviously taking legal action is next step but this dog is a danger to other animals and children. I now live with my family as I just had a baby and am worried if this isn’t handled something could happen to my child or my young niece and nephews if this dog has these constant aggressive tendencies. We love to go for walks and the first situation affected us to the point of avoiding going the direction of their house but now we are here again and this time it didn’t happen in front of their house.

also, The owners of the dog absolutely suck.. and play the victim.. like the man had a fully unreasonable emotional breakdown in front of my mom when she confronted him the first time this happened with our dogs medical bills