What a complete loads of bollocks.

hahaaaa this is how I wanted to phrase my response!

i dont think i could or would risk my life for my pets, and i would be furious if my husband or kids did so. if one of my daughters fell into a raging river, yes i would jump in and try to save her, if my dog did it, well she would have to try to help herself. leaving my family motherless and my husband without a wife would be too much for me to risk. yes i would be hysterical trying to get her to come to me, or trying to find a way to save her, but i wouldnt risk mine or anyone elses life to get to her. i adore my pets, but i adore my family more.

Oh god, how awful! I cant even imagine how difficult that must have been.

I think there should be a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of walking animals in bad weather anywhere near rivers or the sea. I can never understand why people walk dogs near to frozen lakes, it really does bother me that it is not generally known that this is very dangerous and can only assume people are just not aware of their surroundings.

In bad and especially extreme weather, keep your dog on a lead.

Cats like doing their own thing with a spot of company now and again whereas dogs are sociable pack animals. If a dog "will jump through hoops" there's no real thought process behind it other than, "If I do this I might get a biscuit. I like biscuits! This is fun." Both are utltimately motivated by food though really. The dog stays well behaved because it wants to be fed and the cat comes in now and again to say hi because it also wants to be fed. Cats are always looked at as being the complete opposite of dogs in terms of motive but I don't think they are all that different.

Dogs can be smelly but so can cats, particularly when their rancid smelling poo is radiating throughout the household when they refuse to go outside to do their business. I personally find the cat's bum really whiffy but I suppose it does insist on displaying it right in my face when I'm sitting down. I do like that most dogs will stay on the floor so I don't have to smell them too closely because the natural doggy smell is just never good.


I'm not seeing how that's intelligence. Isn't that just a human trait being placed upon an animal in attempt on the owner's part to humour themselves? They will never own you because they rely on you for food and shelter. I'm not sure they even have the capacity to think such things and I doubt if they care if they're a 'pet' anyway as long as they get regular food and a stroke now and again.

No-one would say that because grief for humans is on a different level entirely. I don't think it's even worth setting out why it's different. If you've ever lost someone close then you just know that it's an entirely different kettle of fish to losing a pet.

Yup.
...

Well I have lost someone very close, along with pets, so I do know what I'm talking about.

Rubbish. I've lost both humans and pets. Grief is grief. Species doesn't come into it. What you grieve for is your loss.

Thank you, I still think of it often, obviously as it hasn't been long. I just feel for the lovely family and wish that people would understand that the children may read this. He done what was right for him, I just done what I could, sadly it wasn't enough.

I already have done when my cat was standing in the middle of a busy road. I ran into the middle of it the shoo him onto the pavement without regard for my own safety. I was inches away from getting ran over, but just didn't think. Must've been my caternal instincts. I'd do anything for my cat!

No I would'nt risk my life for a pet.

Yes would definatly risk my life for my cats, Although if I managed to live, they would be complaining I hadn't fed them on time.

I live in a second-floor flat and have 2 dogs and 4 house bunnies. I often think about what I would do if there was a fire. I actually have a plan of action for the rabbits involving lowering them to the ground in a carrier through the window on a rope and actually bought a rope for this purpose. Obviously this would take time and every second is crucial when you're in a burning building. However, I honestly don't think I could walk out the door and leave them behind. It's either all or none of us.

I've made similar preparations for me and my cat. And I've had the same thoughts as you: by the time that I've faffed about trying to catch him (I'm sure he wouldn't be a happy cat during a fire) and get him out the window, I might be a goner!

I always worry about getting my pets out incase of fire, In my mind I think the dog would be easy to get out, rattle his lead and he would come to me, so I could get him out, the cat follows me everywhere anyway, so I could easily pick her up and get her out, but what used to worry me most was the goldfish...when he was alive I used to think of all the ways I could get him out...finally came up with a plan, and every night I started leaving a large mug next to his tank..then I thought, if there was a fire, I could just scoop him up and take him outside in it

hahahaaaa sorry that really made me giggle

I cannot believe that the man let his daughter go into the water - she could have drowned also. Probably he didn't stop to think -,but no way do you put your child at risk for an animal, no matter how loved.

If my house was on fire, I don't think I could ever forgive myself if I walked away and knew my cat or dog was inside. I think it's just a natural instinct to risk your life for someone you love.

I would definitely risk my life to save my dog. She means as much to me as any member of my family and I would gladly give 10 years of my life to give her an extra one year. She is nearly 12 and thought of life without her is a daily fear that equals the fear of losing a loved one and I know my husband feels the same.