Man, dog found dead inside mobile vet van in Queens

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) -- A man and a dog were found dead inside a mobile vet van in Queens on Sunday.

Neighbors say the veterinarian who owns the van and the other vets who work for him do public service work for the community, helping sick and injured animals at a low cost.

The discovery was made just before 9:30 a.m. on 157-18 65th Ave. in Flushing.

Police found the body of a 57-year-old man and a dog inside the van, and a 73-year-old man unconscious just outside.

Neighbors identified the survivor as Garo Alexanian, the founder of the mobile vet clinic. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

"He has a history of helping people out in the community," said neighbor Martha Rios.

Another neighbor told Eyewitness News she came outside and found Alexanian on the ground in the bitter cold.

Video from a nearby camera shows a man staggering and falling.

"He was laying here for quite some time before he was noticed. Because he was very cold, stiff. Yeah. Yeah. It was really horrible," the neighbor said.

This neighbor asked that we not identify her, but says Alexanian was in and out of consciousness before help arrived.

"I called 911. And that's when he told me that the surgeon was in the vehicle, dead. I said what? Oh my god," the neighbor said.

Alexanian is "a very helpful guy and he's quiet and he does his thing, and a lot of people come bring their animals for him to take care of them," neighbor Eduardo Alvarado said.

The van has a generator outside, and although an autopsy will have to determine the man's cause of death, generators produce carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if the generator is not properly vented.

Neighbors say the van was noisy and a quirky thing to have right outside with the humming generator and animal noises, but they understood why it was there.

This van was parked close to Alexanian's home. He and his team made themselves available for animals in need at all hours.

"It's very sad to see and witness that someone in the community that tried to help people with their animals and provide low-cost service pass away," added Martha Rios.

One neighbor says the van's generator was sparking and fizzled last night, but two men got it working again and were caring for at least one dog as of Saturday night.

Police have not yet identified the man who died -- an autopsy will help determine exactly what went wrong.

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