If it is going to be unhelpful advice like that, you can keep it. As it happens no first aid course on the planet would have helped that person. But I might have felt something could of been different if there wasn't others around to at least try.

My point was that it is all well and good to say what you think you would do, but when it happens, it might just all go out the window.

Please do not pity me. I do not ask for that. I just have a deep attachment to my pets I have chosen to care for for the duration of their natural life.

I do not seek pity.

I pity you that can be so cold toward a creature you have chosen to keep as a pet. What hope do they have

All is not lost then. TTFN.

Advising someone to take a 1st Aid course, to give them knowledge and confidence, is "unhelpful"


A no-win situation is always a possibility, but next time, knowing what to do might well make a difference.


Even the best trained person in the world, might go to pieces, when faced with a life or death situation, but that's not a reason not to train for it.

The confidence that results, from knowing the right way to deal with such a situation, makes it far more likely that you will cope.

I dont pity you for one second - I said I pity your family that you value your pet's life above theirs.

And in what way am I cold towards my pets? What hope do they have?? are you for real?? My pets have a wonderful life thank you very much, but I would not dive in the sea to rescue them as I have an 8 year old son who would be left motherless and funnily enough he is the most important thing in the world.

No place in your heart to treat all species equally?

"Am I for real?" Word

No animal or human can be replaced, others come along but nothing replaces something you loved.

well you have answered my question then

No, there is no place in my heart to ever put my life in danger for an animal as much as I may love it, I am a mother and that comes first.

Yes I would.

Of course I would risk my life to save my dog's life
One time, I took her out for a walk around the lake, she jumped in the cold lake and disppeared. I panicked and almost jump into water to save her. Just as I was about to, she came out of the water.

I physically scaled a factory roof to set a trap and get my Elphie back so yes, I would, and did!! My cats enrich my life which simply would not be the same without them, they are my family and I would do anything for them x x

erm, sorry you're wrong, end of. I adore my cats

Me too. My cat is probably the most important thing in my life. (And the most dog-like cat too: comes when called, talks, follows me about, wakes me up, tells we it's bedtime, etc.)

If one of my dogs got into trouble i would move heaven and earth to help them. Im not sure i would think of my own mortality, i would do my utmost to keep them safe.

On the walk we do there is a small waterway between islands. My dogs have at times got way too close to the edge for my liking, but luckily one whistle or call and they come back to me. We have been walking the same walk for 6yrs now, so they know their limits and have never so much as got a paw wet. But, if they disappeared though down the bank, i think i would assume i were superman and jump in to save them, little thinking of the consequences.

My OH says he wouldn't do anything to risk himself if anything like this happened to our dogs but I know he would if it came down to it

Yeah agreed. Dog owners seem to think that people who own cats, arent as attached to them as they are their dogs. There is this myth among dog owners that cats only hang around because you feed them, and because they have marked their territory. Yet I have had and known of numerous cats that are as attached to their owner as a dog is.

Cats are individuals like dogs. They all have their own trates, personalities and habbits. The difference is, is that they don't just sell out to anybody. They are independent and make you work for their attention and love.

You dont know what you would do until the situation happens which i hope it never does for anyone. We was at the seaside years ago when my dog decided to swim out to sea a bit he then went under and my dad was about to swim in after him lucky some surf borders where there and brought him back too us ok.

I dont know. I just dont know how I'd react in that situation. Yes, taking risks with your life is probably not the way to go, but if you are actually in the situation, your pet is crying for your help , do all your previous intentions go out of the window?, and you take that risk you swore you never would.?

I love my cat, I really do but the story used by the OP was - in a nutshell - a choice between the girls father and her dogs.

If you put it in the context of being a 'choice', how many people would still choose their pets?

I think any life has equal worth, and there's nothing lacking in my life. Humans are only animals. We are not intrinsically more valuable.


Non animal folk are tragic as far as I'm concerned.


I would definitely put my cat over someone else's kid. And yes, I'd risk my neck to save my dog-I'd never forgive myself if I didn't. They're family.

Emphasis above point, 100%.

Every couple of months this same story crops up..

Each to their own..I for one could get over losing a pet..I could never get over losing a loved one trying to save a pet.

Pets are pets..people are people.

Some people can form a bond with a pet similiar to another human..I cannot..I love my pets,care for them,look after them and would never allow anyone to harm an animal..but lets get real here..they are not human..they may bring you pleasure and comfort and you may enjoy caring for them..but in the real world of family life..no furry,feathered or scaley creature is anywhere near worth losing my husband or children.

I would be interested to hear the daughters answer as to whether she would miss the jack russel or her dad the most..I should imagine she will hate jack russels for the rest of her life.

So what? What makes people so special? They are ambulatory bags of flesh, bone and organs just like any other animal. That's all.
Yes, wew've established that. Again, so what? Animals are alive, too.

Have been on another thread exactly the same with you before where you stated you would save an endangered species over a human anyday..we are never going to think the same way so n ot going to bother arguing.

Human life is more precious than any other species life to me..not to you..we are different.

I probably shouldn't reply to this thread but I feel absolutely compelled to. I spent three hours trying to save this man and I met all of his family and in all of my nursing career, I can't say that I've been more affected by a death and to be honest, whilst I do understand that people feel the need to discuss the should you/shouldn't you aspect, a man died and although thankfully most here were not disrespectful directly to the person involved or his daughter, I just don't think it is appropriate to discuss a case where a large family, including 5 children are grieving the loss of a much loved dad.

The gentleman loved his dogs as he loved his family as I understand it. He would not have thought twice, whether others would do the same is obviously up for discussion, but preferably not in direct discussion of this tragic loss. Sure, this is a topical debate, but when directed towards a particular case where a father has died days ago (on the day of the initial post) prematurely in tragic circumstances, a bit of respect is required surely.