Man Crawls Across Thin Ice To Rescue His Pet Dog - Labeled 'Foolish'

Discussion in 'Animals & Pets' started by Makedde, Feb 16, 2012.

  1. GeneralZod

    GeneralZod New Member

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    I save the dog, it is only cold water. Just hold your nose and jump in.

    But i have no idea why so much restiance to this from some chatters. Maybe they are not dog lovers?
     
  2. Up On the Governor

    Up On the Governor Well-Known Member

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    I have always cared deeply for my pets, but I could not do that. I am not a strong swimmer and especially not in freezing water. To start, I would not let a dog roam around unattended or without a leash. That was stupid. If he still happened to fall in, I would do everything short of killing myself (which would probably happen) to get him out. Call me a coward or whatever, but I am willing to put my life on the line for anyone, just not if there is a 5% chance of success for an animal.
     
  3. Up On the Governor

    Up On the Governor Well-Known Member

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    I love dogs, but I have been in freezing cold water before. Have you?
     
  4. GeneralZod

    GeneralZod New Member

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    Yes, but i always been a strong swimmer, surfing etc..

    Besides after the intial shock worn off, get the dog then out. A few moments of discomfort is better than a dead pet.

    Also look at the picture, the ice has broken, the birds are in the water and the dog is still alive after thrashing about while the owner has undressed and slowly on his hands and knees.

    So the water temp, is not absolute zero is it, proberly freeze your bollocks cold sure and it woiuldent be pleasent but also wouldent kill you.
     
  5. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    Anyone who would stand and watch their beloved family pet drown lacks common sense and does not deserve to own a pet.

    I haven't been in freezing water, but that wouldn't matter to me. My pets are like my children, and I would be swimming my way over to that animal. I can't swim, would probably drown, but that would be fine because I knew the risks and I would be happy with the knowledge that I actually tried.
     
  6. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    Can't argue with that bit. The dog should not have been on the thin ice to begin with. I would never actually have to rescue my dog like he did because my dog would never have been on the ice. But it was a hypothethical. I would have gone in. She went in a got stabbed, which is far more dangerous than me getting cold and wet. Granted, she does not know what a knife is, but she sure as hell knew something was bad when she got stabbed. But yet she never backed down. I could not live with myself if I let her drown knowing I could have helped. If others can, that's fine. I just hope their dog knows that should anything come up where they could use a dog's help. I don't mind if someone does not have my back. I just prefer knowing that upfront.
     
  7. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    LOL. Right, trading your life to attempt to save a dog is the common sense thing to do. I also find it ironic someone who lets their "beloved family pet" roam the neighborhood is attempting to lecture anyone about common sense.



    Funny thing is, I believe you. There is a insane, lonely cat lady in every neighborhood. Go see a mental health professional and see if they agree that's logical behavior.
     
  8. GeneralZod

    GeneralZod New Member

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    Oh come on, "trade your life"

    Not from this story posted on here. At most get a cold afterwards possibly the flu. Not much to ask for saving a pet.

    I like to thank stekim for his honest account, his dog is a real hero.
     
  9. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    If you would kindly read the post I quoted, the young lady clearly states she would probably drown because she can't swim, but is fine with that outcome.

    Reading comprehension - its not your enemy.
     
  10. GeneralZod

    GeneralZod New Member

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    I read what you said, and i ignored it. I agree with the young lady as you put it. She has the right idea to pet ownership.
     
  11. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    You ignored it, yet commented on my post. Even my 4 year old is smart enough to understand the concept of "ignore".

    And I'd suggest the same to you. Go explain that position to a mental health professional and see what kind of answer you get.
     
  12. GeneralZod

    GeneralZod New Member

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    I ignored your weak trolling, although why you are attacking a mod on here who obviously loves her pets. Is a strange thing to do.

    Anyway good luck in this useless battle.
     
  13. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    Trolling - because I don't agree with an insane and suicidal point of view you share with a mod...Right. And what battle? We are having a discussion, the purpose of a forum. Grow up.
     
  14. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    That's what I keep saying. This was not trading your life for the dog's. If going after the dog was pretty much a death sentence then what is the point? If going after the dog is going to make you wet and cold and entails some "risk" of real harm that is a different story. I would happily get wet and cold with some small, but highly unlikely, risk of real harm to save my dog.

    I will grant my dog was doing what comes natural. She is a protective German Shepherd with instincts that tell her to save members of her pack that may be in harm's way. She does it because she does it. She knows no other way. But it is very hard not to attach human emotions to some creature that takes a stabbing to save you. My fiance literally looks at her and tears up sometimes. The dog will be sitting there chewing on some bone and she will just tear up looking at her. So I'm pretty sure she would also jump in the water to save the dog. Just a hunch.
     
  15. Wingless

    Wingless New Member

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    It looks pretty stupid in hindsight, but faced with that actual situation I'm sure most people would've done the same. My family owns a cute little cockapoo, and there's no way in hell I would watch him drown. So I can definitely see why this guy jumped in like that.
     
  16. Viv

    Viv Banned by Request

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    The number of people killed by "common sense" (or should I say common stupidity) is legion, btw. But I'm sure no one would stand and watch their pet drown.

    Way to leave your pets homeless. :p

    IMO most of the time animals are better equipped to escape a situation like that than a human. More so if the human lacks the wit to to lob a few big rocks onto thin ice and break it up with a stick until the dog is able to exit. As before, they don't need much help, being very agile.

    It's hypothetical that you would not put your dog in that position. Don't be offended, you did raise this in the thread for discussion, ok? But why was your girlfriend walking your dog alone in a place where she could be attacked and raped? I'm not casting aspersions, but the first rule of avoiding danger is... to actually avoid it. Think before putting yourself and your animal in those situations of risk. I am sure though, that she is very careful after that experience and wish her well in recovering from it.

    I wouldn't underestimate, dogs hide a lot. I suggest she does know what a knife is and that makes her all the braver. Our lab always took knives, guns and handcuffs away from the kids. He hated it when the kids put handcuffs on me, as they do when they're playing. He used to nudge in and steal the cuffs and run off with them, hide under the bed and chewed them until they were unusable. Did the same with the knives and guns.

    Dogs have protected me many times, almost as many as I protect them under different circumstances. The labs and the Gordon Setter both disabled potential attacks before they got started, just by covering the person's hand and holding it immobile between sharp teeth and growling in that "move you're dead. I mean it" way until the instinctive fear gripped the person and he dropped the suspected knife.

    One of those times it was a lighter the guy was taking out of his pocket, not a knife. He was just walking past as I stepped out and the dog reacted before I even saw the guy. Those dogs were always on red alert, because we lived in town then and it was very busy. But the current dog, who should be having a much more relaxed life in suburbia/rural area, is 100% as vigilant at all times. They are amazing creatures. There is some suggestion our species may have outlived neanderthal because we had dogs as an early warning system, where neanderthal didn't...

    You can never go into unfamiliar water without risk. Even in an enclosed pond, there are risks. Every year people here are overcome by good weather fever and jump in the local reservoir. They drown, not because of cold or currents, the reeds entangle them and they are not able to escape. Usually when it happens, other people jump in to help and they perish. They are usually strong swimmers who think they know better.

    I agree it comes naturally to dogs to save life. It's a basic human instinct also. It can usually be done in any number of ways without risking your own life, if you take a minute to think before acting.
     
  17. Jarlaxle

    Jarlaxle Banned

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    Well...Marm would probably have jumped IN, swam around for a while, then climbed out. (He was a well-insulated St. Bernard perfectly happy to swim in near-freezing water.) But in that situation...yeah, I might do it. My wife certainly would...in fact, being ~70lbs lighter, she'd probably be telling me to get a long tow strap out of the car (around the waist as a makeshift safety tether) while getting ready to go out herself. I am a fair to poor swimmer...she is a very strong swimmer, her only hindrance being that she's dense. No, really: she is lean and muscular, enough so that she has a slight negative buoyancy. I, on the other hand...*looks at 40" waistline*...I have a natural flotation system.
     
  18. DA60

    DA60 Banned

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    That's just about how I feel.


    Sacrifice is cool.

    Self-preservation is not.
     
  19. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    Anyone who would stand and watch their pet drown is a horrible individual who doesn't deserve to own a pet. My two cats were like my children. I considered them my kids back when they were alive, and I still do. I would run into a burning building to save them, and if you think that's crazy, I don't care a fig. Its MY choice to risk my life to save them.

    So because you disagree with my opinion, I must be mentally ill? Nice one. Real nice.
     
  20. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    Like I said, see a mental health professional, explain your position and see what they say. I don't think running into a burning building or jumping into a icy river when you can't swim to save a cat is illogical behavior, I KNOW it is.
     
  21. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    It would seem you are an expert on these matters. I don't give a (*)(*)(*)(*) what you or anyone else thinks. MY pets, MY choice to risk my life to save them. End of story.
     
  22. ian

    ian New Member

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    A pity this didnt happen in America, the man might have been carrying a firearm and been able to resolve the issue using his gun.
     
  23. kronikcope

    kronikcope Active Member

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    Indeed it is your choice, and luckily for you I doubt anyone would stop you from engaging in said actions.
     
  24. DA60

    DA60 Banned

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    And why do you care what others do in this regard?
     
  25. Unifier

    Unifier New Member

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    That guy is a hero, plain and simple. Major respect for what he did. That took guts. Pets are family. I'm so glad they're both okay.
     

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