An Alabama man died after he was fatally mauled by a pack of dogs on Tuesday morning, a county coroner said.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Joe Cleveland Scott, 65, of McDonald Chapel, was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:08 a.m. CST, AL.com reported.
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Joni Money said that Scott was found on a road surrounded by six dogs, according to the news outlet. Deputies believe the attack occurred at 6:49 a.m. CST.
Cleveland’s body was found by a passerby, WTVM reported. It is believed that Cleveland was taking a walk when he was attacked, according to AL.com.
Because the dogs were interfering with the sheriff’s office investigation, officials with Jefferson County Animal Control were called and the dogs were trapped, WBRC-TV reported. It took more than an hour to trap the animals, AL.com reported.
Once caught, the animals were taken to the animal control’s facilities, according to WBRC.
Money told reporters that the dogs appeared to be strays with a “pack-type mentality,” WTVM reported.
“People will dump animals,” Money said. “Say, they had an unwanted litter, they’ll dump those animals in areas like that, and they’ll just allow them to run free. Then, they’ll pack together and look after each other. It’s kind of like a pack of wolves or coyotes. They learn to survive.”
The sheriff’s office and animal control are investigating. The dogs were euthanized, AL.com reported.
“It is unusual for somebody to be attacked,’’ Money told reporters. “My understanding from these neighbors is these dogs have been in the area for a while and have not been aggressive.”
