Letter: Pit bull is an overused designation
Shashi Sharma, seen at left in a photo provided by her son Suraj's Facebook page, was attacked by a pit bull, bottom right, near Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick on Sept. 29, 2011. Credit: Facebook (left); NCPD
Why is it the minute there's a dog-bite story, the media immediately jumps in with the "fact" the dogs were pit bulls? ["Maul victim improves," News, Oct. 6]. Unless the reporters and police have an American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club judge with them, or DNA testing available, there's no way to know if a dog is a pit bull.
The only thing the media want is the shock value, not caring about the repercussions for the dogs. I'd much prefer reporting that doesn't include breeds, especially when there is no idea what a true American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier really is or even looks like.
It's extremely difficult to identify a dog's breed by outward appearance alone.
Caitlin Langone, Williston Park
Editor's note: The writer is a professional dog trainer.
