GUILFORD — Simon, a pit bull mix scheduled to be euthanized after biting a boy in 2017, instead was released into the care of a Michigan-based animal shelter Friday, according to town police.

Devoted Animal Friends Society Inc. took ownership of Simon, Lt. Timothy Bernier said in a release.

According to a news release from Mark Goldman of Goldman McCormick Public Relations of New York, Dr. David Young, Simon’s previous owner, said that a neighbor’s teenager cut a fence and trespassed into the yard where the dog was playing with a dog-sitter.

The child had entered the yard to get a ball while Young was on vacation, according to Young’s Change.org petition to save the dog.

In August 2018, Young said the teenager who was bit appears “fine” now.

Young’s wife, Deanna, said at the time their insurance paid the boy’s medical bills but she doesn’t think it’s fair the dog is being punished.

“I hope the town will do the right thing,” she said.

Simon was held by the town’s animal control officer and scheduled to be euthanized.

Young filed an appeal with the Department of Agriculture and later sued the town, claiming it had violated his First Amendment rights, according to the Hartford Courant.

Now, Simon has a new lease on life outside of Connecticut.

Bernier said the appeal is expected to be dropped and Simon is not expected to return to the state.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com