Would you save your pet or a stranger's child?

[NotADailyMailJournalist]

Hello all

Slightly inspired by another thread where posters were surprised that people were more interested in someone's dog than their baby...

If you have a cat/dog and you could only save it or a stranger's child/baby, what would you choose?

For the purposes of this thread, no-one would ever find out you'd been given the choice, so you wouldn't face any consequences.

Thanks

I was coming to say this. You're all chatting bs.
I would without regret save my pet
Also haramba shouldn't have been shot

My dog. Every time.
No I don't have kids.

A stranger’s child. Without hesitation. Because I’ve been through the death of my own dc and feel sad for anyone that has this horrific experience to come.

And yes, I am selfish. Tis the human condition

We're all selfish, to an extent. Yes, that's human.

However, if you're serious, you (and posters who agree with you) lack normal levels of empathy. It's a key marker for sociopathic disorders.

Human child obviously

@CerealPonderer Everyone has sociopathic tendencies to a greater or lesser degree. Not all sociopaths are evil murderers or whatever though. Many are surgeons or high level investment bankers. Necessary for society. So I am not offended by what you say. Probably due to my sociopathy! :-D

OMFG. I am totally speechless at some of these responses.

@CerealPonderer don't get me wrong, I feel bad that the child will die and its parents be upset. But I don't care about that MORE than I care about me and my pet.

I am hugely empathetic and definitely not a sociopath. My different opinion does not make me wrong. I am a vet though so I see how pet loss can quite literally kill people. I know the same happens with child loss but why can’t the parents save the child whilst I save my dog (and cats and guinea pigs and rats)?

Bit concerned about the OP tbh. Weird question.

I can't believe this is a serious question.

The child. Every time. No question. I have pets and a child.

I’m hoping my family aren’t ever reliant on any of you saying pet 🤞🏼😬

Just asked DH and he said pet 🥲 Thanks for starting the discussion and making me question my whole marriage @NotADailyMailJournalist 😂 I owe you one 😅

Right. So if your imaginary child and pet were hit with a car who would you bring to the hospital first? As a dog lover (have two who I love), seriously?! Maybe parenthood isn’t for you!

@Inyourwildestdreams no problem!

Yes, I would like to thank everyone who has given their opinion and/or made a though provoking point!

Depends on the emergency nature of the situation.

Let's say I'm crossing the road with my dog and so is a child, car is speeding etc, split second decision... I think by instinct I'd jump to grab my dog.

I adore my dog but of course I would save a human child if that was the choice !

@BambiSkate the Harambe thing was a disgrace. He was completely let down by whoever designed that enclosure, and the child's idiotic parents.
Also, and I'm sure this is controversial, I'm not sure why anyone is so confident about prioritising humans over gorillas, ethically. The gorillas are certainly rarer.

@Franticbutterfly its not a weird question, it’s a very real philosophical question. We talk about it in A-level Religious Studies! (Which I teach, hence the random Peter Singer knowledge upthread!)

shes not actually a person - she is a good dog, a great dog even but she isn’t a person.

Human child, without question.

I think those answering that you’d save a pet over an actual child’s life should see a doc.

Bloody hell - scary.

@Psychologymam you're confusing MY (theoretical) child with a STRANGER's child.

My cat comes AFTER MY child but BEFORE a stranger's child.

I would 100% save my we spaniel 🥹

If I was on a motorway and a child and my dog were about to be hit by a car of course I would instinctively go to save the child (and I don't have children)

thanks for shouting at me - that doesn’t particularly make it better, you just now like a loud person with scary tendencies! Good to know you don’t care too much about kids as long as they aren’t related to you, must make watching the news these days much easier.