Would you do it??
 

Seen this artical in the local rag,
Animal lover dives into icy river to save horse (From Lancashire Telegraph)
How many folk think its crazy to risk their life for a pets? Obviously every situation is different,taken on its own merit.
How many folk would risk their on life for a pets?
I personally (would like to) think I would,for my dog.
It's been the best companion I could hope for and the bond we have makes it family.
But would you do it??

Re: Would you do it??
 

Love me dog to bits but NO. Not a hope in hell. Fact that i'm a crap swimmer plus n owd fart makes it stupider than ever.

Would you do it??
 

For a child, hopefully no hesitation, for a pet? Don't be silly, as sad as it's loss may be, you can always get another.
:)

Re: Would you do it??
 

I can't say for sure. It would depend on circumstances.
I would hate to be in that position.

Re: Would you do it??
 

I've read many times about people trying to save their dog, jumping in then drowning and the dog manages to get out further down the river. That said, I don't think I could bear to watch my dog in trouble without trying all I could to rescue him, he's definitely a big part of the family.

Would you do it??
 

Indeed you are correct with just about every point in the above post.
However it should be, 'trying all I can without personal injury'.

Re: Would you do it??
 

The man involved in the rescue was someone who makes his living by working with animals so his was a natural reaction when seeing the animal in distress -plus he was assisted by others on the bank but it was still very brave and self-less of him to jump into the river like that. I have been involved with animals myself on a daily basis for nearly 27 years (on a dairy farm) and have seen many sides of the coin with respect to accidents / animal welfare over the years. As a rule though there is a large body of people out there who work with animals and have great respect for them and do their utmost in any situation to alleviate them from danger, pain or un-necessary suffering. It is also true that we communicate with animals and in particular with our pets who we bond with quite strongly. I have had many cats over the years and have been through all kinds of situations with them - some quite distressing when they get ill or have accidents. I have always done whatever I could for them but I think to be totally honest in a really dangerous situation I couldn't guarantee I'd put myself at risk of death for them! Then again in such a situation we can sometimes surprise ourselves by our gut reactions in the face of a crisis (I am not a very brave person!)

Re: Would you do it??
 

Some good honest answers.
Here is another example some may remember of bravery,stupidity(depending which side of the fence your on).
Rugby star Nevin Spence, his father and brother die in slurry tank trying to save dog - Home News - UK - The Independent
Sadly this example didn't turn out to have such a happy ending.

Re: Would you do it??
 

Yep, I'm one of the stupid ones who'd risk it, point of fact some years back January time bitter cold, snow & ice on the ground but the section of lake we were working on clean up party/maintenance from the fishing club our old hound was in & out the freezing cold water picking out sticks.

At one area there's an extreme drop off & a stick was sticking up out of the underwater sand bank, the Hound had decided he wanted the stick & had gone in after it, someone shouted out that he was struggling & his choke chain appeared to be caught on the stick.

I didn't really give it much consideration, but dressed down & waded in, up past the belly button, 3 adam's apples & on the edge of the drop off, I was getting ready to swim out. Then the scuzzy mutt decided he'd had enough & come see what I was doing! Obviously something more fun than a stick! Chuntering a blue streak I turned back to the bank, guffaws & merriment all round for the onlookers ...... Barfturds!

Me not right impressed but mightily relieved, I could of wrung the scrawny ratbags neck, after I'd thawed out mind & me spuds had returned to their proper position! :o

Exhibit 1, the offending article "Gasbottle" :)

Re: Would you do it??
 

I'm sorry son, but I have to tell you that I laughed myself daft at your tale of the dog......it must be the way you tell 'em.
Looking at the dog......I think I would have braved cold water too......it looks a very cute mutt.

Re: Would you do it??
 

Aye he wasn't a bad Hound Ma! He was mine through & through, used to travel all over Germany & Holland with me when I was out delivering. He was the star of my Hamburg adventure that I blogged. :)

Re: Would you do it??
 

Firstly,thats a great summary of the events.
That's a good looking "hound" you got there,glad it was a happy ending :D

Re: Would you do it??
 

You know how they say that pets look like their owners -he really looks like he just had to be yours - before the hair-loss! ;) ;)

Joking aside - defo one man and his dog! xxx

Re: Would you do it??
 

I comprehend where the folk that say No are coming from,for example if i asked the same question about (god forbid) your/a child.
Would you jump into a (well alight) burning house or a raging ice cold river to save your/a child,knowing that death was almost certain for both of you? (Although it would tear any humans soul apart) In some respects, one could argue that the bravest decision would be to say no.

Re: Would you do it??
 

I would and I have, so I will say yes, but it does depend on the situation.

Definitely in the circumstances the man in the article is represented to be in I would have. I've risked my life for animals several times. But each situation is different and, as AccyExplorer touches on in relation to humans, if death is almost imminent that makes a different story altogether.

Re: Would you do it??
 

You could! But an enduring fact of human nature is that whatever the situation, there will always be someone who won't consider the outcome & risk all in an attempt at saving another life regardless.

Re: Would you do it??
 

Well done Dave, must agree wi yeh though yeh are stupid, anyone that seeks me out when yer oer here proves me point.:D;)

Re: Would you do it??
 

Very true Dave,I act very impulsively and irrationally when under pressure :)

Re: Would you do it??
 

Reading this thread has brought back a memory that I'd almost forgotten. About twenty odd years ago me and some of my family had gone for a walk over what we used to call the dairy fields (behind what used to be Daisy Dairy at West End) to the lodge. My brother suddenly got frantic pointing to the water where we could see his terrier was tangled in the reeds and couldn't get out. Rather than let him jump in (he's very asthmatic) my mum calmly stripped down and swam right across the disgusting lodge and untangled the dog, saving its life (and probably my brothers too, if he'd gone in). She hardly mentioned it too. She would have been in her early fifties then! How brave is that? Nearly gave my dad a heart attack though who was on a nearby pen when someone ran across the field shouting 'mum's in the water.

Re: Would you do it??
 

Impulse isn't always irrational.
Sometimes we measure the event in a split second and do what we think is the right thing.
When things go wrong, it is because all of the information was not evident to us...and you can only make decisions on the evidence you can see.

Re: Would you do it??
 

I know the lodge well westendlass,I use to fish there. Did it use to be a skatepark or something??
I think this from the Comments in the news article best sums it up:
"Compassion is compassion, whether it's aimed at a human being or an animal, and is to be applauded either way".
Unfortunately it seems to be an alien concept to some folk.
Thumbs up to your mum ;)

Re: Would you do it??
 

Compassion is a bit like style......'you've either got or you haven't got style' goes the line from an old song.(Sammy Cahn, I think)
Compassion is like that...if you haven't got it then you can't buy it and it can't be taught.
It has to be felt. It comes from the heart.