Most Would Die To Save Their Pets: Study

[ozjen]

I can't imagine leaving my furkids behind in an evacuation or standing by and doing nothing if they were in danger but I honestly don't know how brave I would be if faced with a situation. I did once shoot down a steep river bank ready to jump into a river with a fairly strong current to save my sisters old Sheltie that got into dificuties even though I'm not a good swimmer and nervous in the water. Luckily I was able to grab her without taking too big a dip. Sometimes in an emergency you don't think of the risks, you just react.

I do sometimes wonder how I would go grabbing all the fur and feather kids by myself if the need arose and how I would transport them to safety without the car if I couldn't walk them out. Hopefully I will never need to.

[Swiss Girl]

My kids would always winge that I loved my dog more than them and that she got more toys. But, I always assured them that if it came down to it, they would win. My family will always be more important to me and I would never endanger them to save my dogs life. I may love my dogs, but I LOVE my family.

[Miss Danni]

What people say they will do, and what they will actually do when faced with life & death are usually at opposite ends, survival instinct is a very strong force to overcome. Emergency crews have to have a lot of training to face this instinct.

I hope none of the poll voters get to find out what they will actually do.

I know what I'd do, I've done it before and I'd do it again. I've gone into a bushfire to get my animals out, so has my Dad.

Next time the circumstances would be different but my actions would be the same.

I've gone into a collapsing, burning house to rescue someone that I would not recognise in the street, so there's no way in hell I'd leave my dogs behind in a bushfire.

Edited March 3, 2010 by Miss Danni

[Red Ruby]

Thats a super tough one! I would never just leave them behind after a disaster just because the shelter wouldn't let me bring animals.

But I have 5 young children (all girls) who I would never purposefully leave without a mother. I don't think I would risk my life if it was seriously dangerous? I often worry that I wouldn't be able to save all 5 girls in a fire or something bad like that, let alone pets! But if all kids were safe and I could make an attempt I would. I would like to hope we could all just get out safely and I wouldn't have to make that choice!

[hortfurball]

Spottychick, your whole post was great!

I'm another that would turn up at the shelter with pets...all of us or none of us, simple as that.

Those who are talking about going back into a burning building... I wouldn't need to go back in, I'd have collected the animals on my way out the first time, although I have to say, if the damn cats were hiding I'd only search within reason, but I'd probably get the dogs out before going back for the cats.

My emergency exit plan is to grab the cat carrier from the room next to my bedroom and scoop up both cats as I spot them on my way to the leashes. The dogs would no doubt be following me anyway so leashes on and we're out the door. Providing the cats weren't awkward, it would maybe add on a maximum of 30 seconds to getting just myself out. If I thought the back yard was safe for the dogs, I'd simply open the back door and usher the dogs out while I grabbed the leashes and had a quick look for the cats.

Hopefully I'll never need to put any of it into practice.