The nation's highest court has ruled in favour of a Melbourne dog on death row, but the council involved will continue pursuing the pooch despite spending about $600,000 on the case so far.
Lawyers for Tania Isbester appealed to the High Court hoping to save her Staffordshire terrier Izzy, deemed aggressive by Knox City Council in 2013.
The court unanimously backed Ms Isbester on Wednesday, halting Izzy's execution and ordering the council to pay costs.
Ms Isbester's lawyer Daniel Beecher says he isn't in a position to discuss her legal fees.
But Knox City Mayor Peter Lockwood estimates the council has spent about $600,000 in the interest of "community safety".
"We've had costs awarded against us, so we have to pay the other side as well," he told 3AW on Wednesday.
"It's heading around $600,000."
Mr Lockwood said the council will start the process against Izzy again "as soon as we can".
Richard Kendall QC, representing Ms Isbester in the High Court, had argued a member of the panel which determined Izzy's fate had a conflict of interest by presenting evidence at a Magistrates Court hearing and then the panel hearing.
The court found a fair-minded observer could reasonably believe that member might have not brought an impartial mind to the decision.
Mr Beecher called on the council to release Izzy, who has been at the RSPCA for two years.
He said Ms Isbester was "overwhelmed with happiness" by the ruling, but heartbroken by the council's response.
"If they do insist on reconvening a panel and if they do come up with the same conclusion, then I will be advising Ms Isbester once again to appeal that decision at the Supreme Court," Mr Beecher told reporters.
Izzy was one of three of Ms Isbester's Staffordshire terriers involved in attacks on other dogs after escaping from her backyard.
In 2013 she pleaded guilty to a charge relating to a 1.5cm cut caused by Izzy on the middle finger of a woman trying to pull the dog away from her daughters.
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