Duke the ?death row? pit bull has been given a new lease on life Friday.

Duke has been on doggie death row for four years. He was ordered to be euthanized after a neighbor accused Duke of attacking his dog and horse in 2003. His owner, Denise Menendez, has fought to keep her pit bull terrier alive after the sentence.

On Friday, Duke walked out of the Islip Town Animal Shelter and into the arms of Menendez.

?It was a really long, long time coming, I didn?t think we would get here,? Menendez said.

The Menendez family will spend the next few weeks helping Duke adjust to his newfound freedom. However, a court order does require Duke be leashed and muzzled when in public and secured in a pen on the Menendez?s property.

The Menendez family maintains that Duke was home at the time of the 2003 incident and did not attack the neighbor?s animals.

For previous News 12 Long Island coverage of Duke the dog on death row, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.