Man Mauled to Death by Pack of Pit Bulls in Upstate New York: Officer Rescues with Gunfire

Pack of Pit Bulls

A Schenectady man, James Provost, 59, was tragically mauled to death by a pack of pit bulls in a shocking incident on Wednesday evening. The attack occurred around 6 p.m. in the backyard of a home adjacent to a suspected drug house where the dogs were kept, according to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

Witnesses reported that a blurred video captured the moment Provost was surrounded by as many as ten aggressive dogs. As he struggled to fend them off, a police officer arrived and shot one of the dogs, which startled the rest and allowed the officer to rescue Provost. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The dogs, which included a total of 24 mix-breed pit bulls and 15 puppies, were subsequently collected by animal control and taken to a local humane society. The homeowner, residing in Cohoes, along with the dogs' caretaker, assisted police in rounding up the animals.

Authorities are still investigating how Provost ended up in the yard and why so many dogs were kept at the location. The home had previously been raided for suspected drug activity, and while no charges have been filed yet, Chief Hawkins promised that justice would be sought for the victim. The fate of the dogs will be determined by the judicial system in due time.

Man Mauled to Death by Pack of Pit Bulls in Upstate New York: Officer Rescues with Gunfire