Austin service dog faces euthanasia as owner seeks federal intervention

A federal judge has delayed the scheduled euthanasia of Major, a 65-pound Belgian Malinois service dog, providing owner Shane Lilly a narrow window to fight for the animal's life. Senior US District Judge David Alan Ezra announced on September 29 that he would issue a ruling within 10 days regarding the dog's fate.

Major has been held in isolation at an Austin, Texas, animal shelter for more than 545 days. The legal battle began in March 2025 after Major was struck by a vehicle. During the aftermath, a bystander attempting to assist the injured dog was bitten. Consequently, the city obtained a municipal court order for euthanasia, citing public safety concerns.

Lilly has exhausted state-level appeals, including a request to the Texas Supreme Court, which declined to intervene. In his federal lawsuit, Lilly argues the city failed to properly consider Major’s status as a service animal and is seeking an independent behavioral assessment to determine if the dog can be safely rehabilitated and returned to his owner.