Animals vs humans

[fifi669]

AIBU to think if faced with choosing a pet over a human (even if a stranger), you should choose the human?

The idea was brought up in another thread and put in life or death situation. Building on fire contains your pet and a stranger. You could only save one, who would it be?

I had a dog, Ralph, I cried my heart out when he died 3 years ago. The only dog I wasn't scared of! But I can't imagine leaving a person to die instead, no matter how my heart would break.

Just out if interest let's flip it a bit.

If you had to kill a stranger or your dog by injection, face to face, which would you choose?

I've no idea what I would do so when actually in that situation. I'll just have to hope really really hard that I'm never in that situation.

Well said Spikey and Giles btw. I am a bit behind.

person, because the animal wouldn't know it was coming. And you aren't in an emergency situation like the burning house scenario where I actually think instinct and emotion would take over and you'd not be responsible for who you took out (probably your dog)

Interesting Binky.

Would I face criminal charges for killing the human? Do I know them? Are the good, bad or average?

I would be the exact same as Outraged on page 4 actually:

Child I know
Adult I know
Child I don't know
My pet
Adult I don't know
Adult I don't like

I actually don't think it's fair to say someone is crazy or the like just because they would save their pet. For all you know they may have no friends or family left and that pet has got them through everything.

'I'd be happy to be left to die and an animal rescued in my place'

Is this your pet or anyone's pet? In all honesty aside from DS, it's all about me. There is 0% chance I'm putting someone's poodle before myself in a life or death situation.

Spikeytree I agree.
Show me a donkey in distress and I obsess,
but somehow I think people should take care of themselves.

Whatever, my dog is part of my life. A part of me.

No idea binky. Depends on the stranger.

Binky it's because I can't even contemplate the thought of my dog dying which is another reason I'd save him from the house. So here I would choose the person!

Assuming person is Hitler etc

I would be the exact same as Outraged on page 4 actually:

Child I know
Adult I know
Child I don't know
My pet
Adult I don't know
Adult I don't like

I actually don't think it's fair to say someone is crazy or the like just because they would save their pet. For all you know they may have no friends or family left and that pet has got them through everything.

Binky
we'll have to do that though.
When it's time to PTS.

A dog often gives its owner unconditional love. Strangers and some family members do not give these people that. I think that is part of what they are saying?

Anyone else remembering the scene in Green Wing where Guy is getting Martin in a panic about his ethics exam and whether to save the woman or child from the burning house?

binky assuming both are fit and well, neither are badly behaved weirdos or anything. I'd inject the dog. For the same reasons as the fire scenario, plus the dog wouldn't have a clue and just fall asleep.

There will be no legal ramifications for killing the human, and you don't know anything about them.

Coffee - it's different because you put to sleep to prevent suffering of pet.

I know.
It won't be any easier though.

Fuck 'em, I'd watch the whole lot burn.

It's a really tricky one.

If my dog was young and the human didn't know what was going to happen, I'd inject the human.

If my dog was old or sick or the human knew what was happening and was asking me not to kill them I'd inject the dog. I don't think I could kill a stranger who was begging for their life even if it meant killing my dog.

There are several people who I know who I would kill over my dog though.

There are certain people I'd inject over a fish..

In a burning building situation, assuming cat wasn't hiding and unreachable it would make more sense to rescue the cat since I could actually carry the cat out. If it was between a baby and a cat I'd probably be able to rescue them both. If it was between an unconscious adult and a cat what would be the point of my trying to drag an unconscious adult out as that would probably result in me, the cat and the adult all dying. If I got out with the cat I could tell the firefighters there's still someone there.

outraged re the quote request...

I humbly acknowledge that I was mistaken. There have been plenty of "I prefer my pet than other people" etc, but not "I prefer any animal to other people".

Where's the humble pie emoticon when you need it?!

Oh good lord.

I would kill the dog, I wouldn't even think twice.

I couldn't murder someone even if I knew I would be exempt from charge. I simply would not be able to kill a human being and live with what I had done.

I would be upset at killing my pet, of course, but I wouldn't feel as if I was a murderer.