A Santeria priest from Euless Wednesday asked a federal court to allow him to sacrifice a goat in a religious ceremony at his home.
Jose Merced had sued the North Texas city that denied him permission to kill the animal.
Merced accused Euless of trampling on his constitutional rights.
But U.S. District Judge John McBryde sided with the Fort Worth suburb last year and dismissed the Puerto Rico native's claims.
Merced asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to overturn McBryde's ruling. A three-judge panel didn't immediately rule.
The city said animal sacrifices jeopardize public health and violate its slaughterhouse and animal cruelty ordinances.
Merced lawyer Eric Rassbach said his client sacrificed animals at his Euless home for 16 years without incident and is willing to "quadruple bag" the remains for disposal.
