Judge Orders Austin to Release Dog Major
A federal judge ruled that Austin must release Shane Lilly's dog Major rather than euthanize him after more than 575 days in city custody.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Dogs
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Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra ordered the city of Austin to release Major, a dog held in isolation at the Austin Animal Shelter, and not to euthanize him. Major must be transferred to a designated rescue organization within 30 days.
Why it matters
The order ends a dispute that has kept Major in city custody for more than 575 days after he attacked a woman in March 2025. It also rests on Lilly's federal claim that the city violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Major has been held in city custody for more than 575 days, and Lilly has raised more than $16,000 on GoFundMe toward expected future costs of about $25,000. The rescue organization that will receive Major has not been named in the source.
The players
Shane Lilly
Lilly is the owner of Major, who filed the federal lawsuit against the city of Austin and has raised funds through GoFundMe to support the dog's care.
David Alan Ezra
Ezra is a senior U.S. District Judge who issued the October 26 order requiring Major's release and monthly updates on the dog's situation for the next year.
Austin Animal Shelter
The Austin Animal Shelter is the city facility where Major has been held in isolation since his March 2025 attack.
The details
Major is held in isolation at the Austin Animal Shelter with no direct human contact after the city ordered him euthanized following the attack. Lilly's lawyers, who represented him pro bono, filed a federal lawsuit after state courts denied the case, and Lilly must keep Major outside Travis County and Austin city limits and carry $100,000 in liability insurance.
Timeline
March 2025: Major attacked a woman and was taken to the Austin Animal Shelter.
September: The American-Statesman reported that state courts had denied the case.
Oct. 26: Judge Ezra issued the order in Lilly's favor.
Within 30 days: Major must be transferred to a designated rescue organization.
Legal Context
Lilly's lawsuit invoked the Americans with Disabilities Act to challenge the city's decision, a legal theory that places a pet dispute within federal disability rights law. The ruling tests how far that statute reaches when a local animal-control decision is contested in federal court.
Austin dog owners facing city action on a dangerous-dog case can see how a federal court handled a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Owners in Travis County should note the order's restrictions on where a dog may be kept after release.
The takeaway
A court ruling can override a local animal-control decision, but the order also sets conditions that carry ongoing cost and oversight. Owners facing similar disputes should document their dog's care and insurance early.
What happens next
Within 30 days, Major must be transferred to a designated rescue organization, and Judge Ezra expects monthly updates on the dog's situation over the next year.
Further reading
Find more on Dogs and how cities handle dangerous-dog cases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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