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.

What about if it was one of your DC versus and entire family of children and adults? I would choose my DC every time, but I would choose a human over my dog, even though I love my dog more than it's natural to.

Pointless discussion except to be a teensy bit smug in parts. Actually what 99% of people would do is run like fuck and stamp on anyone in their way. It's human nature, very few people stop to help others. (only for a year) I was a Paramedic in the 90s and rarely saw people risk their lives unless it was for their own gain like photos, money etc. Obvioulsy one's own children are the exception.

It's like the people who are so opposed to private medicine they say they wouldn't sacrifice their militant principles if their own child needed life saving treatment the NHS wouldn't give. Yeah right, of course you wouldn't....

My dog is part of my family. So I would rescue my dog over anyone else outside my family.

Wow wake up to find some quite nasty comments on the thread - when I left it it was a good genuine discussion. Ah well.

I don't really understand the emotional attachments some seem to have to a total random stranger but that's OK you are entitled to save them. Just as it's my perogative to rescue my dog who I can't imagine without. There's no need for mud slinging and outrage. I'll always put me and my own ahead of anything strange. That is human nature because we protect the ones we love. Blurred line with random baby/small child but that's it.

If I were to abandon my dog to a fire I can assure you he would be beyond distressed. So he's just as emotionally engaged as I am. He's not a tub of lard that just lies there all day not engaging with anyone or anything. He's kept my feet warm all night :) I know my mother for example simply doesn't understand the bond that exists between human and dog. But it's far stronger than a bond for me between one human and another.

Crazy responses on here!

Imagine if you were in the burning building and you can hear someone rescuing their dog in the next room, then when you call out to them, they go "hang on mate, just saving my dog first/instead". I'd be and [shocked] that you'd chose a dog over me. I would come back and haunt you.

Likewise, if I found out you'd left my DH (or any family member or friend) to burn while you were saving your dog, I'd be more than angry. Doesn't bear thinking about.

Why????? People, every time for me.

I Would like to think I would save my dogs, cats, birdsong tortoises. I would also try and save my paintings which are irreplaceable.

There are some really nasty posts on here, what is it about dogs that makes people so angry? Lots of people have dogs, lots of people hate dogs. Can't any discussion ever take place where dog lovers are not considered a bit thick because they love their dog? So sneery.

Theodorous It think it is because there are a lot of people who don't appear to be able to post/or choose not to post without judging over people or other people's actions. Maybe they just can't understand other people's opinion because it's so different to their own! Or perhaps to validate their own feelings, to put other people down, lack of self awareness.. who knows.

Dogs are loyal, kind, loving and caring. My dog is part of my family and I am part of her 'pack'. If I was put in a situation where I had to choose between dog or human, I don't see why I should put someone else above myself or my own family (that includes my dog!!).

To princess, has your brother been horrid to you?
To littlewhitebag, are your children horribly behaved?

Spring people have explained many times why they would save their dog first. Some for love, some for ethics because a life is a life no matter how many legs you have. That doesn't make us crazy
Personally I don't understand how people wouldn't help a defenceless animal first that brings joy and happiness to a family as opposed to a stranger with arms legs and wits to save themselves and who may or may not have the same attributes as said creature. Some of the responses I find incredibly cold blooded.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that should be respected not ridiculed just because you don't agree with it.

What about a random dog over a stranger?

I think there was a good comment earlier on that said people would just save themselves. Which is probably true but I'd scoop up a dog and cat under each arm on my way out!

Some people are just utterly insane...

Gin I showed this thread to DH last night. He said dog whether it was ours or not. Me too probably. As said above humans have more ability to save themselves. Children are the exception.

Yes, an adult would try and get out themselves, but taking the OP at face value, I'm guessing the other would perish in the fire. You can save one.

My DH, for example, is a stranger to you, so you would allow him to perish while you saved your dog? Never mind that he has a wife, children, brothers, friends, people who love him and would miss him terribly Why would you let a person die?

Maybe I'm taking it too literally. I'm hiding the thread now as I can't compute. It's making me quite cross.

Trish. Why would you think my children are horribly behaved? They are lovely. I love the dog, they love the dog, I suspect we would all try to save her. I haven't asked what they would do though. I'll ask later and report back. At a guess I think my DH will say the stranger as he thinks with his head and not his heart.

I would save a person, how could you leave a person to burn to death if you had the chance to save them?

little was it because you were the one who preferred your dog over your children?

IsSpringSprangedYet - isn't that selfish though? That you would want someone to put your needs and family above their own?

My need is to keep my family complete (of which my husband and dog are a part). My dog has loved me and been part of my family longer than most marriages last.

Your need is to keep my family complete (which includes your husband).

One of us has go without! Why do you think your family is more important than someone elses? Regardless of whether you 'value' whether someone's son, dog, mouse is worth it or not. It's not about your value scheme, it's about the person doing the saving's values. They are under no duty to save anyone

Haha. People are really taking my strike through from last night seriously. I do say further down the thread that I had imbibed much wine. I was being light hearted as people are taking this thread way too seriously.

I'm still waiting for sensible answer to the whole why is it not selfish to prioritise one's own children above others'.

I'm so depressed to see how many people are saying dogs first.

For me it's simple, humans over dogs every time. Until I first came across this on mumsnet, I thought that was how everyone thought, I thought that was simple straightforward morality. The stranger might not be someone you love, but they are someone that someone loves. Even the horrible ones. I would rescue the horrible bullying boss who drove me to a nervous breakdown before I would rescue my own pet. Not because I particularly would care if she lived or died, I wouldn't, but because her family love her and could never get over losing her. That's reason enough.

I can't bring myself to believe that all the posters who are saying 'dogs first' would be happy if the situation were reversed. In this hypothetical situation, would someone honestly be happy that someone else chose to help their dog rather than your husband/friend/sister? The fire is over, your loved one is dead, and the person comes over and offers their sympathy, and then says 'I just had to rescue my dog, hope you understand, he comes first, no hard feelings eh?'. Would people really pat them on the back and say 'oh, it's fine, dont worry about it?'.

WellI didn't mean you personally but now we are here and given your accusatory tone on a purely hypothetical discussion which seems rather ott - I can honestly say I don't have a clue who he is and if a house is burning down round my ears quite frankly I probably wouldn't care. He is a stranger to me and I feel no emotion for someone I don't know - asides from if I see something the news and think oh that's sad/awful. And then go about my day. My dog is part of my family too and I value his life just as much. I don't know how many times I have to keep saying this without still being treated as if I have some kind of mental deficiency. Yet you would subject my family to the same fate because you feel humans are more important than dogs/animals. If that was me and my dog was stuck burning down I hope to God someone would get my dog first. But that's life so hey ho.

Humans are selfish and I am going to save what is more important to me and get out as fast as I can. Anyone who spouts any other noble claptrap is deluding themselves. Or would end up ill with all the stress of trying to cure the world. Unless they are in the emergency services Ofc.

sharplily. Are you actually suggesting it is selfish to prioritize your own children over other peoples children? Seriously? Do you actually have any children? Parents would lay down their lives for their children. They would not prioritize someone else's child over their own. It's not selfish. It is human nature.