Federal Judge Blocks Austin From Euthanizing Major, the Service Dog Held 575 Days in a Kennel
A federal judge in Austin has permanently stopped the city from euthanizing Major, a veteran's service dog who bit a woman after being hit by a truck - and ordered a path to rehabilitation instead.
Major's life has been spared. U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra issued an order on October 26 permanently stopping the City of Austin from euthanizing Major, a 3-year-old, 65-pound Belgian Malinois service dog who has spent 575 days isolated in a kennel, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Major belongs to Shane Lilly, 57, a veteran who says the dog helps him manage seizures resulting from a traumatic brain injury. 'Major is not an aggressive animal,' Lilly said. 'Major has no interest in bothering people or other animals. He is a happy dog. He plays gently.' The case drew a public campaign: supporters protested outside the courthouse and more than 89,000 people signed a petition calling for Major to be spared.
The fight began on March 31, 2025, when Major was struck by a truck while walking with Lilly in Austin. Lilly ran to get his phone while a woman attempted to help the injured dog into a vehicle, and Major bit the woman, injuring her arm, according to the court filings. City officials took custody of the dog and obtained a court order authorizing euthanasia, arguing Major posed a serious threat to public safety. Lilly sued repeatedly; the Texas Supreme Court turned him down. In September he filed a federal lawsuit alleging Austin had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to consider Major's role as his service animal.
The ruling is not a simple release. Under the order, Austin must release Major to a rescue organization within 30 days, and the dog must be transferred to a secure enclosure outside Austin for at least 30 days of decompression and behavioral evaluation, with only Lilly and Kenneth Martin, a designated behavioral veterinarian, permitted to be with him while Martin assesses whether Major can be safely returned. Major will not be permitted to roam among the general public again, and Lilly must carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance against a future bite. City officials said they will comply with the order while remaining concerned about the dog's public-safety risk, and that they hope Major gets the care and attention he needs.
