If I see any more comments on Mumsnet of it's just a dog

[Lifeneedsaresetagain]

Do people not realise that for those who welcome them into the family they are part of the family. And if you have a dog and say it's just a dog, I'm not sure you should have one.

Hmm yes, it's gone a bit silly now. As I say, I like dogs, (even though I'm a cat person!) and they can be very loyal and loving pets, and yes, like family... But I judge anyone who says they would save the life of a dog (or a cat) over a child.

If any dog or cat of mine was drowning, and a child of say, 7 years of age was drowning next to them, I would absolutely save the child first. I would try and save the animal afterwards, but I would save the child first... It's utterly batshit and bizarre for ANYone to say they would save their dog over the life of a child, (or any age human actually.)

You have to remember also, that most dogs don't live much past 10 years, so the likelihood is that the dog in the imagined scenario will very likely only have 3-5 years to live anyway. Maybe 6-8 years... The child will have a potential 80 more years of life ahead of them. Maybe even 85-90 years.

Quite honestly, anyone saving the life of a dog over a human (even one they don't know) should be charged with manslaughter if that human dies... I'm not kidding. Wilfully letting a human being die while you save a dog should be classed as manslaughter, and hold a 5-7 year prison sentence.

Anyone who is so 'emotionally attached' to a dog, that they would save the dog over a human life, needs to give their head a massive wobble! 😬

!

So now you are backtracking? You said you would choose to save your dog over a child. And by that logic, that someone else's pet is more valuable than your own child. You cannot change your mind now, you were adamant in your choice earlier. It's an incredibly selfish thing to say you would do.

Not to mention pulling people out of rubble when humans can’t access them.
Like that time when blessed humanity that must be adored at all costs flew planes into the twin towers.

Dogs are actually very handy creatures.

Im off to take mine out, much as this fray has been fascinating.

@MyOliveCrow i was never going to let a child, a man or a dog dictate my life. I look at friends who’s children rule their lives, and they’re miserable. I look at people who let their husbands do sweet FA and they’re miserable. I look at people who have to take their dog everywhere and think it’s mad. I don’t take my dogs everywhere. My daughter is an adult now, she doesn’t live at home, she has her own house, a good job, a nice boyfriend, lives in a city she loves and has a strong group of friends. She’s independent doesn’t need to be in her families pocket. Which is not that different to her parents. Doesn’t been anyone is undervalued or unloved.

People who think dogs are as important as human members of their family, and having a dog is akin to having a child, really, truly (and I mean this kindly) need to sit down and have a word with themselves. The dog obsession is getting pathetic, and I say that as someone who really likes dogs.

And seriously, anyone who would save their own dog over an actual human child, really are beneath contempt.

How old is this child? Boy or girl? Do we know if they grow up to be a good person? Where’s its guardians? Are they standing by whilst I run into a burning building?

You haven't responded to the main point though, have you? That you would be willing for a stranger to save their pet gerbil over your daughter. Because if you are willing to do that, then you must be willing to have that done to your own child.

It's selfish and self centered. I am glad your kid is fine but the point is you would still choose an animal over her and any other life, simply because that benefits you.

All of this is utterly immaterial. Can't actually believe people are even debating it. It's truly frightening.

What can human do thats worth saving them for?
Raping, destroying, killing, listening to shitty music and making tiktok videos?

I'm sorry but I'm chosing my dog over a random child, the child is likely to become an idiot, my dog (already an idiot) brings me joy.

It is a dog.

I have a dog and two cats. They’re looked after and I’m reasonably fond of them. Will I cry when they die? No. They’re fed good food, the dog is walked twice a day and the cats have the run of the place/do whatever the hell they want. They have warm beds, treats and they appear happy.

But yes, they are just animals. They aren’t my children. I cannot stand this obsession with animals and comparing them to children. I would step over them in a fire to get to my children. I would not risk my life to rescue the animals.

I daresay you're not living in a house built by humans, wearing clothes made by humans (no doubt children in sweat shops), using a phone made by humans, on the internet invented by humans, sustained by food grown, packaged, produced and sold to you by humans, and clean water provided to you by humans?

Can you answer in plain English? You would be ok for a stranger to save their dog over your daughter? Yes?

So you're okay when someone else chooses their pet gerbil/fish/tarantula over your children? Your partner? Your sister? Your nephew? Your mother?

Are the humans in your life that shitty that that is all they're worth to you? You must know some awful people. Or is it that you are an awful person who simply doesn't value their lives that much? Or is that you are just so selfish that your needs, your 'joy', are far more important than anyone else's? And you are questioning humanity and its selfishness? You are part of the problem.

Yes. I think the people who say they prefer dogs (or pigeons) to humans, need to take a look in the mirror. I expect they don’t like what they see.

It seems like the opposite to me, they are really fucking proud of themselves because they can't see past their own selfishness. The OP won't answer because she knows she can't defend it. It beggar's belief. No one the world is so fucked when people like this are so content to put themselves first over everyone else.

You won't cry when your own pets die? That is quite shocking. You're "reasonably fond of them"? That is the weirdest post yet on a very weird thread.

On a thread where people have said they value the life of a dog over the life of a baby, that's the weirdest thing someone's said?

@MyOliveCrow it’s hard to answer a very lose hypothetical question.

if the question was who would I save in a fire, the answer would be whoever needed the help getting out. DH would prob be fine, oldest dog would definitely be fine, she’d probably lead the way out, DD would be fine, youngest dog would need to be rescued, now if I needed rescuing I’d be reliant on our oldest dog.

If the question now was if I was walking youngest dog and a moped ploughed into dog and some random child I’d save the child, the dog is 70kilos so he’d probably be better off than the moped

and saving yourself first to save others is always an option

@CoubousAndTourmaIetI didn’t cry when my own grandmother died, I certainly won’t be crying over a few animals.

And yes, reasonably fond. I would never wish harm upon them, the dog is currently lying beside me on the sofa - but I have no particularly strong feelings regarding them. They. Are. Animals.

Given that I'm old and asthmatic, I don't think it's likely that I'd be saving anyone from this hypothetical fire. I would expect my dog to save me, however.

This isn't what you said though is it? Its not about your husband and child, you said you would save your dog over a stranger's child. You have now changed your tune, made up some new scenario about your family which wasn't the point and I don;t know where you got that from, and are now saying you would save the child.

Glad you have admitted that your initial post was wrong and that you have some humanity and would choose to save a child over your pets, even if it did come with some weird caveat about the dog being safe by itself.

Why on Earth would I want to take a disease ridden vermin barking piece of filth out for a walk?

Suffice to say in your case, I probably would save a dog over a human like you.

@MyOliveCrow in a random hypothetical situation I’m saving a dog every time. When given a specific example I can answer based on the parameters. I’m completely stone cold, clearly I dont care about anyone or anything.

LOL

Did your dog create the clothes, home, food, internet, phone, hospitals, education system, welfare state, job etc for you?

Like that other strange poster, I probably would save a dog if it meant not having to save someone like you.

I can make use of the dog to be the subservient piece of filth it deserves to be.

I not a dog person and wouldn’t have one but I don’t dislike them either.

However when people say things like they love a dog as much as a child I roll my eyes and nod along, each and everyone props on who has said this to me has replaced their dog with a new puppy within months of it dying. If your child died you couldn’t contemplate this