mn hq, is it really wise to have topics that are deamed so agressive/scary that most members don't want to post there?

No-one has ever advised on these boards though that in the case of a fire a dog should be put before children.

This thread is getting out of hand.

Nobody is saying not to save children. The point is that people make a choice to include pets as part of the family, and with that comes responsibility. Other examples include people who let their toddlers hurt their dogs, then when the dog snaps, they kill the dog. Where is the common sense, the compassion? The poster that some people are criticising has lots of both. Yet dog lovers are "loons" and "fanatical"

If there is a fire then only the most reckless, foolhardy idiot would prioritise their pets over their own life, or those of their children.

I have 3 children and a DH. My priority would be to save them.

If I got them all out safely and it was safe to get the dogs then I would.

If there was even the smallest chance I would put my own life in danger then I would leave them. I am NOT leaving my children without a mother for the sake of a dog.

My dog's such a wuss he'd be out the door first well before the rest of us had even noticed there was a fire.

Assuming my husband was conscious.

Whatever, it was just an analogy.

Remains the same. I would save my family. Then the dog if it were safe to do so.

Silly mutt Is always right behind me anyway.

Wannabe - so you are infact very naive and had no idea how this thread was going to go?

Of course I wouldn't fucking 'forget' the dog, I'd do what I could to save every member of my family. I'd want everyone to be saved. But if there was a straight choice, dog or children, then my children would come first, every time.

I'd never ever forget that either. It would probably haunt me forever. But I'd still save my children first, and if that meant I couldn't go back and save the dog, so be it.

You have 2 arms for your children. Your husband sorts the dog out. I have children,dogs, cats and guinea pigs. I'd be stuffed

Thanks mmelindor. I was concerned- could cope with the suggestion I thought of myself as an expert

Sorry wannabe

Intelligence
That is what I mean. If there was a fire, I would do my utmost to get Daphne out. But I have two arms. And two children. If I could not manage to save Daphne I would be distraught, but my children, and my husband, and my own life would come first.

If that makes me a bad dog owner, so be it.

Some people have made it personal, even if the original intention wasn't to do that

Cheria - I was replying to the post above mine where MNers were accused of 'saying they'd leave their pets to burn in fires, would walk past a dog being beaten to death because they would fear for their own safety, and various other despicable attitudes'

Pag
Was POG not P something Goblins?

3rd time I've tried to post and failed so apologies if it shows up a few times.

The doghouse is the only part of the forum I would never post in, after I happened to click on a thread that was quite upsetting. A woman posted whose husband had recently died. She'd bought a puppy for their young children but was clearly grieving and unable to cope with a puppy too so had posted about possibly rehoming it. One poster was was completely vile and lacked any sort of kindness or compassion for the poor woman. I wish I'd reported it actually. I cant remember the poster's name but it was truly disgusting. The woman was grieving the loss of her husband and made a poor choice in buying a puppy; she didnt run over a baby with a steam roller.

Intelligenceitself
who decides if I am worthy of owning a pet? I love my mutt but if I had to chose between saving her and saving my children then I am afraid she would lose her life.

And I would intervene if I saw a dog being mistreated, but I do admit I would assess the situation carefully to ensure that I would not be putting my life, or that of my children at risk.

At the risk of repeating myself, I have nothing against any of the doghouse posters. I like Val and the others. And this thread is not a personal attack on her or anyone else.

Wannabe
Your post is addressed to Pog. Is it to me?
Because if it is, I was not for a moment justifying the behaviour. Nor do I post on the Doghouse. Nor do I regard myself as an expert. Nor do I get accused of being bullying or hectoring.

I was trying to think through how the dynamic may occur. Not justifying or defending it

And in a fire no, you don't just forget your pets. If they are part of the family they are part of the family.

What you have said isn't really the issue. You have to have read the threads to understand the laid back attitudes to animal welfare I'm talking about. I a was flamed by what felt like a million posters for questionning how someone could hear a dog being beaten and not do anything about it. It was sickening.

Queen no-one to my knowledge has ever said a child's life shouldn't come first or that you should risk your own life or any of the other more outlandish things the Doghouse posters have been accused of.

Have started a thread in the doghouse, seeing as nobody knew a thing about this one. Right to reply and all that.

intelligenceitself - I consider myself a 'genuine animal lover' but yeah, if it should come to it, I'd rescue my children before the dog.

And I wouldn't risk my life to stop a dog being beaten either - phone the police, yes. Possibly intervene in person, if I felt it didn't pose a risk of serious injury to myself.

Are you really saying those are 'despicable attitudes' that mean I shouldn't own our dog???