Police: Schenectady man dies after being attacked by eight or nine dogs

Police have identified the man killed in a brutal dog attack in Albany, but still have many questions about why he was there and what exactly happened.

James Provost, 59, of Schenectady, was killed in the attack that occurred Wednesday in the backyard of his home in the 500 block of Central Avenue.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said in a news conference that police received a call around 5:55 p.m. that a man had been attacked by dogs in the backyard of a home.

According to Hawkins, the first officer on scene saw the man being attacked by eight or nine mixed-breed pit bulls.

“The officer fired his weapon to stop the attack,” Hawkins said.

One of the dogs was killed. The other dogs ran away.

The dog walker helped police round up all the dogs. Hawkins said the dogs' owner lives in Cohoes. He said the owner and caregiver cooperated with the investigation.

The attack occurred in the yard next to where the dogs were staying. According to police, 24 mixed-breed pit bulls lived there. Fifteen of them were puppies.

The 23 remaining dogs remain at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Hawkins said a judge will have to decide what happens to the dogs after the criminal investigation.

Hawkins said none of the dogs had proper licenses. Four had licenses, but they expired in March.

Hawkins confirmed that police had raided the property back in May after receiving a drug complaint. At that time, five to seven dogs were confiscated. It was not the result of malicious behavior, he said. The dogs were released.

There have been no calls for animals at this location.

About four or five people lived in at least one of the units.

Hawkins said his department is working with the Albany County District Attorney's Office to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

“It was a terrible attack. Of course, if you keep that many animals in one place, violating city ordinance, and some of those animals kill a human, there's a real possibility of that happening,” he said.

Hawkins said the dogs were not raised in a “family atmosphere.”

“There is some very, very questionable activity going on at this location,” he said.

Investigators are still trying to find out why the victim was there and what connection he had to the residents.

“We will do everything we can to bring justice to this person who was brutally attacked,” he said.

NewsChannel 13 brings you updates on the case on air and online.