Augusta Farley: Reporting casts pit bulls in bad light

Re “Dog attack revives horror” (Page B1, Oct. 19): I am disappointed with the recent articles in The Modesto Bee about the tragic death and injury of two people caused by a dog attack. I expect newspaper articles to inform through unbiased reporting.

In Jeff Jardine’s article Ron Berman’s statements about breed behavior and dog bite statistics bordered on hysteria; his bias was all too obvious. At the least The Bee could have included an expert with better credentials, perhaps a veterinary or Ph.D behaviorist. An article that is misinformed is not helpful. Nor is one that targets an entire dog breed, in this case the pit bull type dog, for the transgressions of a few. Thousands upon thousands of pit bull lovers are committed to the rescue, adoption and responsible care of their beloved pets.

Basic public health laws and policies proven effective in encouraging responsible ownership and reducing dog bites are in place in this community. All dog owners can help by obeying licensing and leash laws, socializing and training their dogs, and spaying and neutering. These actions may not have prevented the recent dog bite tragedy, but they will lessen the possibility of one happening in the future.

This story was originally published October 28, 2014 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Augusta Farley: Reporting casts pit bulls in bad light."