A man was killed by several dogs in Albany, New York, this week, in what authorities describe as a “horrific incident.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, at approximately 5:55 p.m. local time, officers from the Albany Police Department (APD) were dispatched to a report of “multiple dogs” attacking a man in the 500 block of Central Avenue, according to a post shared by the department on Facebook.
Officers arriving at the scene witnessed the dogs attacking the man, leading to one officer shooting one of the dogs in an effort to halt the assault, according to authorities.
The individual was declared deceased at the location. At a news conference, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins announced that the individual involved was James Provost, 59, from Schenectady, as reported by NBC affiliate WNYT and CBS affiliate WRGB.
The Albany Police Department announced on Facebook that all dogs involved have been located and are being moved to a suitable homing facility following the incident.
According to witnesses speaking to WRGB, the initial sounds of the attack came from the man calling for help, accompanied by the barking of dogs.
According to Hawkins, as reported by the outlet, Provost was assaulted by a pack of eight or nine dogs from a nearby residence. According to WRBG, authorities later seized 23 mixed-breed Pitbulls, which included 15 puppies.
At approximately 8 p.m., the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society was on the scene, transporting dogs in crates into a van. Authorities stayed at the location for several hours, according to WRGB.
The caregiver of the dogs has been helpful during the investigation, according to WNYT, referencing Hawkins’ news conference.
According to Hawkins, a judge will decide the next steps for the dogs after the investigation. He mentioned that all the animals lacked the necessary licenses.
“We have secured these dogs in a location where they cannot cause any additional harm, ensuring they cannot escape. They will remain there while this situation is reviewed, and once that process is complete, another authority will determine whether these dogs will be returned to their homes or if some or all of them will be euthanized,” Hawkins stated, according to WRGB.
Authorities are collaborating with the Albany County District Attorney’s Office to assess the possibility of criminal charges in connection with the dog attack, according to Hawkins.