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Photos: Star, The Dog Shot By Cop In East Village, Is Okay!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 25, 2012
Modified Aug 27, 2012
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 25, 2012
Modified Aug 27, 2012
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Here she is: Star the dog is improving, and recovering every day. (Courtesy of Animal Care & Control)
Almost two weeks ago the NYPD shot a dog in broad daylight in the East Village. The dog, named Star, was found barking near her owner, who was passed out and was believed to be having a seizure on the sidewalk. One witness told us, "The dog was protecting the owner, that's what it does." When the NYPD arrived on the scene, Star continued barking and running around, and presumably believing she was dangerous, an officer shot her—there is graphic video of the shooting (see below)—and then pepper-sprayed her. Star miraculously survived the point-blank shot, and has been at Animal Care & Control since, but her status has been unknown—until now. This morning Richard Gentles told us that Star "is improving, [but] she's still resting and not up for visitors at this time."
Gentles tells us Star was officially released to Animal Care & Control yesterday at 8 p.m. "Her owner had until that day and time to reclaim her but since he didn’t ownership was legally transferred to AC&C." Until last night, the AC&C couldn’t provide information because of this, but now that she has been released to them, they are free to place her and disclose her status. (Star's owner is believed to be Lech Stankiewicz, who has not been reported to have been seen since the day of the shooting.)
Since her arrival on August 13th, Gentles says they've "ensured that she has received proper veterinary care and attention." Additionally, her medical bills, which have already amounted to nearly $10,000, will be paid for through donations to AC&C’s Special Treatment and Recovery (S.T.A.R.) Fund. Once she is through recovering, they will "ultimately transfer ownership of Star and her continued care to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals" (specifically AC&C's New Hope partner, where homes are found for unwanted animals).
We will update once Star leaves the hospital and that happens. It's expected she'll be put up for adoption—but Gentles says no one has expressed interest in being her human (yet)!
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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