In a horrific incident on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, a 59-year-old man died after being brutally attacked by a pack of pit bull dogs in Albany, New York.
The victim, identified as James Provost from Schenectady, was mauled by nine dogs in a Central Avenue backyard around 6 p.m., as per the police. Provost sustained severe injuries and was declared dead at the incident location.
Albany Police Department Chief, Eric Hawkins, termed the incident as “brutal and vicious.” Officers arrived on the scene within minutes of receiving the distress call and found the dogs relentlessly attacking Provost, even after he had collapsed. In an attempt to stop the attack, an officer shot and killed one of the dogs, which led to the rest of the dogs scattering. The caretaker of the dogs arrived shortly after and managed to control the remaining dogs.
The dogs were residents of a neighboring property and the owner was not present at the time of the attack. The police are currently investigating if they will press charges against the owner or the caretaker. Authorities discovered 24 pit bulls at the property, including 15 puppies. The adult dogs involved in the attack are now in the custody of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, pending further investigation. The fate of these dogs, whether they will be released or euthanized, is yet to be determined by the Albany Police Department.
The property was under scrutiny by authorities back in May 2024 due to suspected drug activity, leading to the confiscation of several dogs. While the initial investigation was not primarily about the dogs, they were later returned to the owner. The previous incident has now raised concerns about the conditions the dogs were living in and how they ended up involved in last Wednesday’s fatal attack.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing Provost’s desperate cries for help amidst the aggressive barking of the dogs. Some residents managed to record parts of the attack, which they later shared with local media outlets. The footage underscored the gruesome nature of the incident and the difficulties faced by the police in responding to the situation.
The majority of the pit bulls involved in the attack were not appropriately licensed, with four of the nine adult dogs having expired licenses. Despite the city law mandating annual dog registration, there were no prior complaints or reports concerning animals at the property before this incident.
This incident further underscores a disturbing trend in the United States, where pit bulls account for a disproportionately large number of dog bites. As per the American Animal Hospital Association, various studies indicate pit bulls being responsible for 22.5% of dog bites. Every year, an estimated 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by dogs, with approximately 50 of these attacks being fatal.