Lamb of God may not die after all.

Three weeks after the yellow Labrador was sentenced to be "destroyed" for biting a 13-year-old boy in the face, Dallas' city attorney is now considering a request to let the dog go free. But Larry Casto said there would be many stipulations attached to her release.

"We're open to discussions if there's an entity of good reputation and proven background that can take care of an animal, and keep her off the streets and away from people," Casto said Wednesday, shortly after a Dallas County judge signed an injunction indefinitely staying the dog's euthanization. "Our objective would be achieved if people are not exposed to the dog."

Casto said the city would also need, among other things, a waiver of liability that lets the city — including new Dallas Animal Services director Ed Jamison — off the hook should Lamb of God bite someone else once released.

"The overriding objective is to protect the public's health and safety, period," Casto said. "In this case, if that end can be achieved by a means other than euthanizing an animal, we will consider it."

That's a remarkable about-face given that two days ago, city attorneys were in municipal court arguing that the dog needed to be destroyed after last month's biting incident, which sent a boy to the hospital for five stitches on his left cheek.

Dallas Animal Services has said this was the third such incident dating back to last Christmas, when the dog bit someone on the hand in front of a downtown-area restaurant. At the time, Lamb of God was dressed as Santa Claus by her owner, 48-year-old Sean Baugh, who uses the dog to collect spare change from passers-by.

Jamison said Wednesday this has been a particularly difficult case, even before the dozens of Facebook posts and news stories documenting Lamb of God's plight.

"I don't want any dog to die," he said.

But in a report presented to the court last month, a Dallas Animal Services veterinarian called Lamb of God a "ticking time bomb" with "multiple personalities" that can't be saved. Judge Michael Acuna twice agreed — first on Nov. 20, when ordering the dog's execution, and again on Tuesday, when he denied Baugh and his team of high-profile, pro bono attorneys their motions for a new trial.

George Milner III, a former Dallas County prosecutor-turned-defense attorney, said he hopes the city will turn over Lamb of God to Awwdoptable, an Oak Cliff-based animal rescue that rehabilitates and rehomes companion animals. Milner said Baugh has agreed to give Awwdoptable president Lee Jamison — no relation to Ed — custody of the dog also known as Lamby.

"We are looking for any agreement that can reached with the city that does not involve euthanizing, and we steadfastly agree with the city that the public's safety has to be the No. 1 concern," Milner said. "But I think we're going to save Lamby."

Lee Jamison has been trying to take possession of Lamb of God since mid-November. Now she's hoping to get a licensed animal behavior specialist over to the animal shelter by no later than week's end to determine where the dog should go. But she agreed: Her agency would submit to a waiver relieving the city of any liability, and she would keep Lamb of God away from people unaware of the dog's biting history.

"I'm relieved and delighted the city isn't digging in their heels on this," she said. "I'm thrilled they aren't being stubborn. This is an excellent development."

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