Federal Judge Orders Austin to Release Dog Major
Major must move to a designated rescue within 30 days, and Lilly must keep him outside Travis County and Austin city limits.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Dogs
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A federal judge has ordered Austin to release Shane Lilly's dog Major rather than euthanize him, ending a standoff that has kept the 2-year-old dog in city custody for more than 575 days. Major must be transferred to a designated rescue organization within 30 days.
Why it matters
Major was ordered euthanized by the city after attacking a woman in March 2025, so the ruling sets a rare outcome for a dog held this long in Austin shelter custody. The case turns on Lilly's claim that the city violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a question that remains with the court rather than being settled for other owners.
Major has spent more than 575 days in city custody at the Austin Animal Shelter, and the court order requires Lilly to carry $100,000 in liability insurance. Lilly has raised more than $16,000 on GoFundMe toward expected future costs of about $25,000.
The players
Austin Animal Shelter
The city facility where Major has been held in isolation since his 2025 impoundment.
U.S. District Court (Judge David Alan Ezra)
The federal court whose senior judge ruled in Shane Lilly's favor and will receive monthly updates on the dog.
The details
Judge David Alan Ezra issued an order in Lilly's favor on Oct. 26 after Lilly's lawyers, who represented him pro bono, filed a federal lawsuit following the denial of the case in state courts. The order requires Lilly to tell the city which rescue organization will be involved, and Major cannot be released to anyone other than that designated group. Lilly must keep Major outside Travis County and Austin city limits and carry $100,000 in liability insurance, and Major will be held for at least 30 days in an enclosed space to decompress.
Timeline
March 2025: Major attacked a woman and was taken to the shelter.
Oct. 26: Judge Ezra issued the order in Lilly's favor.
Within 30 days: Major must be transferred to a designated rescue organization.
Next year: Ezra expects monthly updates on Major's situation.
The Texas Context
Lilly's case was first denied in state courts before he turned to federal court under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the statute he argues Austin violated. The ruling departs from the usual path for dangerous-dog disputes in Travis County, where the state process typically ends the matter.
If you own a dog in Austin, this ruling shows that a city euthanasia order can be challenged in federal court even after state courts have ruled against you. Owners facing a similar case should expect the process to take more than a year and to require an insurance and location restriction.
The takeaway
Keep in mind that a federal court has now ordered Austin to release a held dog instead of euthanizing him, which makes this case worth watching. Track the 30-day deadline for the rescue transfer and the monthly updates Judge Ezra has said he expects.
What happens next
Within 30 days, Major must be transferred to the designated rescue organization that Lilly names to the city, and Judge Ezra expects monthly updates on the dog's situation over the next year.
Further reading
For more on how Austin handles dangerous-dog cases, see our Dogs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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