To think it's not worth risking your life to save a pet?

[Liketochat1]

A few weeks ago a young rugby star, his father and brother died after his dad jumped in a slurry pit to save the family dog. Earlier this week a mum and her partner died jumping into a river to save their dog. They died and the dog survived. Are pets worth this risk?

partly x post with scottishmummy

did you lose a child scottishmummy? you dont have to answer that if you dont want to.

MrsDever - some people have done it knowing they could die.
I know you know what it's like to lose a child and an animal, but people feel differently. My mum for example.

I know my mum would walk to the ends of the earth and GIVE her life for our dog. He helped her through her depression and kept her going. It's a bond no-one will ever break. Animal or not.

I haven't had children yet so I can't say if I'd risk my life if I had children. But I would now! X

I cannot bear this. Its fucking offensive.

There is no proof at all that the young couple who drowned in Wrexham had been trying to save a dog. It is just a theory. But don't let the facts get in the way of a good story...

Zukiecat - I understand what you are saying completely and I find it amazing and beautiful that people can love animals so much

Orange,I fell for you.
You may want to hide this thread.
I guessed this was the case with some people.
I woman I know keeps ponies,and I'm pretty sure she would die for them.
I think,as zukiecat says,some people have had horrible lives,and pets have helped and do help them to cope.

Sorry,feel not fell

Nini, Zukie - sorry, I'm not a cat lover so maybe that's tainting my view slightly but I'm still shocked tbh - I adore dogs though but would still choose DC over them. Who would you save first in a fire - your cats or your DC??!

Yep I have had a horrible life and have always loved my pets.

I have never come across a bereaved parent (and I know hundreds in RL and online) who would compare the loss of a pet with the loss of their child.

And many of them dedicate what is rest of their lives to animal welfare.

Before I had my DD I would have run into a burning building to save my cats but I wouldn't risk my life for anyone or anything now, apart from my child, and leave her without a mum. You can't compare the love you feel for an animal with the love for your own child - well I can't anyway and I am an animal lover.

That wasn't the question, Faff. It was whether or not pets were worth the risk. It's not an either or situation we're discussing. If our house was on fire, I wouldn't leave anyone behind, DD, the cat or my husband. But you wouldn't ask me if I would save DD or husband first, would you?

Hmm. See, rationally I know that risking my life for my dog would be stupid. But at the same time, it's only stupid if you lose, so to speak. I am forever telling my DC that they do not, under any circumstances, try to rescue the bog snorkelling spaniel should he get in to difficulties. Would I be distraught if my dog drowned? Yes. But I can't bear to even think about how I'd feel if my DC died trying to rescue him. I'm not a great swimmer myself, but I can't say for sure that I wouldn't instinctively jump in. I hope I never find out.

I agree with the posters that say that it's all very well thinking about it a hypothetical sense while sittingon the sofa and saying no, I wouldn't dive into a river for a pet etc, but if it came to it, would that be going through your mind, the risk, or would you just act instinctively to save a creature you love? Very hard to know until you are actually put in that position.

I have a Labrador who is probably a stronger swimmer than me so he could probably get himself out better than I could, in fact I would prob be hanging on his tail and hoping for a tow. I love him lots but I would never put him on the same level as DS, not even close and I can completely see why that notion would offend posters who have experienced loss. I would take a bullet for DS in a moment, never for an animal.

I wouldn't risk leaving DS without me, but I guess people dont go into these situations thinking it IS a risk to themselves, not until they are struggling anyway, and the it's too late.

God what waffle. I'm off to pick the splinters out my arse now from all that fence sitting.

orange
I don't think it would compare either. But it doesn't mean I wouldn't try and save them. I'd risk my life to save another human being too, but them dying wouldn't compare to me losing family.

Suppose I might change after kids.

Sorry the it's = then it's too late

Mrsd I would hide the thread if I were you. This must be hard to read

Absolutely gobsmacked that people would risk leaving their children motherless for a pet or that they compare the love they have for a cat to that of a child. I find that so unbelievable.

Gold but would your mother say that her animals were as important to her as you are?

Would she be as distraught at losing one as if she lost you?

I know that she wouldn't. You may imagine she would be and she may imagine she would be but she wouldn't.

Different people feel differently I guess. I love animals, I'd always act if an animal were being mistreated etc BUT I'm not sentimental about them, at teh risk of being flamed and hounded off MN I don't see much wrong in animal shelters putting animals to sleep if they can't be rehomes because there are hundreds and hundreds of unwanted pets all over the place and there simply are not enough good homes or spaces in shelters for them all. I'd love to have cats again having grown up with them but we can't afford them. If I did I would pet them, groom them, feed them, curl up with them on my knee at night becaus eI adore pets. I'd pay normal vet bills for fixable things but if they were to get complex, ongoing expensive conditions I'd put them to sleep because TO ME that is the kindest thing rather than sacrificing family things financially and rather than leaving an animal to go on in pain it doesn't uinderstand. Of course we are all different and others have different bonds with their pets and would go to the end of the earth for them.

So no I wouldn't jump in after a pet.

So zukie, the cat survives, you die and your children live the rest of their lives without their mother. And that's ok with you?

The debate has widened somewhat though.
Posters saying their pets are as important as their kids and they would feel the loss as keenly

People saying they would attempt to rescue but not to the extent that they put themselves at mortal risk.

Its not just 'would you risk your life to save a pet' anymore.

orange

She has already lost a child and her fiancé, so she knows how that feels. But I would never ask her the question anyway.

Indith I agree with you.

It should still be 'would you risk your life for a pet'

Kids shouldn't be involved