A federal judge orders Austin to release Major the dog after 575 days at the shelter. What the ruling requires

A federal judge has barred the City of Austin from euthanizing Major, a Belgian Malinois held at the city's animal shelter for 575 days, and ordered the city to release him to a rescue organization within 30 days, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The case has drawn wide attention in local news, and it raises questions residents ask about Austin Animal Services: how dangerous-dog cases are decided, and how long animals can be held while courts sort them out.

What happened

According to the Statesman, Major attacked a woman in March 2025 and severely injured her arm. The city took the dog into custody and moved to euthanize him. His owner challenged that order in several state courts, including the Texas Supreme Court, and in September 2026 filed a federal lawsuit claiming the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The owner says Major is a service animal. The Austin Chronicle noted the ADA claim in its weekly roundup.

U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra held a hearing in Austin on Sept. 29 and issued his ruling late Monday, Oct. 26.

What the order requires

As reported by the Statesman, the order:

• permanently bars the city from euthanizing Major;
• requires that he be sedated and muzzled, then moved by a rescue group to a secure enclosure outside Austin and Travis County;
• sets at least 30 days of "decompression," with access limited to the owner and a designated veterinarian, who decides whether more time is needed;
• allows the dog to be rehomed with the owner only if the veterinarian certifies it is safe, in a court filing;
• says the dog may never be released to the general public;
• requires the owner to carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance and to notify animal control where the dog is placed.

What the city said

In a statement to the Statesman, the city said Major's stay "was extended beyond what we all would have wanted" and that it "will abide by the court's order." It also said it "remains concerned that Major continues to pose a serious safety risk to the public." The city did not say which group would take the dog or when.

What our records add

The council does not decide individual cases. Dangerous-dog cases run through Animal Services and the courts. Our records show no council vote on Major's case.

Long stays have come up at City Hall. In a September 2025 debate on Animal Services rules, Council Member Marc Duchen said the shelters were overcrowded and that his staff had seen big dogs held "for months and months and months". He called the situation a stalemate and said he could not get matching numbers from staff and a rescue partner on how many animals were transferred.

Court-ordered euthanasia and the numbers. That day the council passed an ordinance, 11-0 as amended, that changed reporting on the shelter's live release rate, including how court-ordered euthanasia is counted, along with notice rules for spaying pregnant animals. About 20 members of the public spoke on the item. Council Member Krista Laine, who brought the changes, said the new data and reporting requirements were a better way to track progress. Mayor Kirk Watson offered an amendment to keep animals moving to rescue partners late in pregnancy, saying the city needs partners and collaboration.

The money. In August, the council unanimously approved a new agreement under which Travis County pays the city $3,735,018 this fiscal year for Animal Services to serve the county. In March 2025 it adopted an Animal Services strategic plan for the Austin Animal Center, and the Public Health Committee heard a one-year update in May.

What's next

The 30-day clock for Major's transfer runs into late November. The Statesman did not report whether the owner's federal ADA lawsuit will continue now that the judge has ruled on the dog's custody.