When dog owners not just in Idaho but across the planet don't take the necessary precautions to contain an at-risk pet, they are creating a dangerous situation for kids in particular. Offenders in Gem State mauling cases are getting off with misdemeanor citations when they should face criminal endangerment charges.

I've had dogs under my roof since the day I was brought home from the hospital. Some of these breeds include Doberman Pincher, German Shepherd, and English Bulldog. The Bulldog, surprisingly enough, was the most aggressive breed of any I've been around.

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Including my teen and adult years which totals more than three decades of dog ownership, not one time have any of them attacked a stranger in a public setting. There's one reason for this. I pay attention.

On average, there are between 30 and 40 fatal dog bites per year in the United States, according to data from dogsbite.org. Victims include children, adults, and seniors; an at-risk animal doesn't discriminate. Maulings happen when careless dog owners ignore warning signs and allow their animals to wander freely.

Most recently in Idaho, multiple misdemeanor citations were given to a dog owner after a young Driggs boy was injured and sent to the hospital by a boxer with serious facial injuries that nearly cost the boy an eye. An open dog door was at the root of what led to the attack, according to KSL.com.

In 2020, a young Utah girl was mauled by a pair of dogs while riding her bike and also sustained major injuries to her face. It happens throughout the world, because unmindful dog owners can be found on every continent.

Punishments need to be more severe for these types of careless dog owners, especially when an innocent, defenseless child is involved.

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