A federal judge on Tuesday again delayed the euthanasia of Major, a dog that has spent more than 545 days in isolation at Austin's animal shelter. The order blocks the city from putting the dog down while the court considers a request from his owner, Shane Lilly, for a third party to evaluate whether Major could be rehabilitated or retrained for safe release. Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra said he would rule within 10 days.
Lilly filed a federal disability lawsuit against the city and three shelter employees. It accuses the city of failing to consider Major's use as a service animal and alternatives to euthanasia after the dog bit a woman on March 31, 2025, when he was injured and she tried to lift him into a car. The suit seeks unspecified damages from the city. Lilly also asks the city to adopt a written service animal protocol, appoint a disability coordinator and stop considering an owner's housing status in such decisions.
Ezra did not indicate how he would rule. He said he saw no "villains" in the case and that his decision should not be seen as a condemnation of either party. He noted that the city's primary responsibility is public safety and cited a 2023 fatal dog attack in San Antonio. Lilly did not raise the disability claim in state court, but he presented evidence that Major was registered as a service animal through an online company. Major was not formally trained, Lilly said. In a statement, the city said Austin Animal Services will continue to care for Major until a decision is reached.