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.

[FeckOffCup]

Humans come first. I am a pet owner and despise cruelty to animals but I would never put the life of a pet before a human in a straight choice.

[TheToysAreALIVEITellThee]

I don't honestly know what I'd do. Guess it would depend on the human

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

A human. I imagine a cat or a dog would try and find their own way out (of a window).

What about my goldfish? Although he is in water.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

It was only on MN that I learned that there were people who would put animals first. I mean ok I'd heard about animal rights activists, but I figured they were just . I didn't know otherwise ordinary people would consider it.

Disclaimer: I'm sure some animal rights activists are ok-ish. Am thinking of the kind that dig up human graves etc and release plague rats into the wild to live free.

[KittensoftPuppydog]

My Doggie.
Why are you supposed to prefer humans? Unless you are religious?
A lot of them aren't very nice, and there are far too many of them.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I don't think anyone could say for sure reAlly. I mean what if the person was somewhere you couldn't get to safely. Would you leave the dog in case people thought you chose it over a person? No you would rescue whoever you can get to without breaking your neck or getting seriously hurt yourself.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

If the person was somewhere you couldn't get to safely that wouldn't really be a choice anyway. The question really is 'if there was equal opportunity and you could only pick one'

Actually a better question would be "If I had you babysit for me and there was a fire...."

[NotYoMomma]

its like when people go onto frozen lakes to save their dog innit.

and then die themselves

I always think 'did they not have a wife, child, mother to consider before being so stupid?'

[Corygal]

I wouldn't leave the house without Mr Cory (the feline one) clutched scratching me in my arms.

[Morgause]

I can say for sure. I'd save the human every time. I'm not weird or Christian, just human.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

BTW, on a serious note, DON'T go back in for an animal. The Fire Brigade will be there in minutes and they have breathing equipment. My fire fighter pal eloquently says, "don't do it, we will have to drag your unconscious body out before we try to get the dog. You'll both probably die."

[Gileswithachainsaw]

For many people that dog everyone suggests you leave behind , could be the very reason you got out alive. If that dog barks eve got sees the fire and wakes everyone up, I'd at least like to think people would try!

[SharpLily]

My husband and I had a similar conversation the other week. I made him promise that if we were in a bad crash or drove off a bridge into a river (), he'd rescue the dog from the car before trying to save me. He made me promise the same. If it came down to it I don't know what either of us would actually do, but put a stranger over our dog? No way.

[NotYoMomma]

putting a dog over your husband or wife



fuck me

[MaidOfStars]

SharpLily If you were confronted with both your dog and an unknown child in danger, but were unable to make any rescue yourself, would you beg the firefighters/etc to go for your dog before the child?

[MaidOfStars]

Agree, NotYoMomma. Utterly baffling (to me).

[BackOnlyBriefly]

To be fair to the people who walk on ice or dive in a river to save an animal I think mostly they don't realise in advance that they might die. It will be "oh the ice is quite thick and look the dog is only just out of reach"

Still, it must be awfully embarrassing to get to heaven and be asked "how did you die?"

"trying to save a dog, how about the rest of you?"

"Hamster!"

"Goldfish"

"Ant"

"My pet rock"

[Strumpetron]

My dog kept my mum alive when she was going through her bad times, she'll readily admit this. I owe that dog a lot.

[Thants]

The ofc human always.

[Frettchen]

Why can I only save one? My dog's not all that big, I could probably carry him whilst grabbing hold of the stranger.

Realistically I'd probably get my dog. I live on my own, so any stranger in my house sure as heck shouldn't be there. Unless it was a child, in which case I'd grab the child in one arm and the dog in the other.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Embarrassing, really?

I wouldn't view trying to save a dog as embarrassing.
There are thousands of people alive today who wouldn't be if it wasn't for their dog!!!

Or someone else's dog!!!

[littlepeas]

This thread is actually quite disturbing. Of course you should save the person.

[coffeeinbed]

Well, can you see it this way - I'm responsible for my dog. he didn't choose to live with me, he's totally dependent on me.

I also don't understand people who say - Oh he's only a dog.
He's part of my family, he's been with me through some very bad times and he's given me a lot of happy times/

[StealthPolarBear]

I'd give my dog the "attack" signal and then drag them both out with the dog clamped to the human's leg

(joke - as a family we only ever owned Shetland sheepdogs :o)

[Gileswithachainsaw]

It's a good job dogs don't think to themselves " I won't sniff out this person as she wouldn't save me if I was stuck"