Serena Soloman at DNAinfo got confirmation this afternoon that the dog is alive. Per her story:
"The dog is being provided medical care by Animal Care & Control of NYC and is in a stable condition at this time," said Richard Gentles, a press representative for ACC, which contracts with the city to rescue and care for homeless and abandoned pets.
No word just yet on the condition of the dog's unnamed owner, who reportedly was homeless and suffered from epilepsy.
Meanwhile, Gothamist hears from an NYPD spokesperson who confirmed that officers discharged pepper spray on the dog before shooting it. Per Gothamist:
"Pepper spray in no way would ever be effective in subduing a dog," says Doug Halsey, the director of Ready For Rescue, a non-profit animal rescue group. "I only see this as heightening the animal's aggression. This was an ignorant and irresponsible approach on these officers' part."
Witnesses have said that the dog was protecting his owner, who may have been unconscious at the time of the police response.
Previously.
[Image by @robbyohara]