Pets vs Humans Options

[queen]

this may turn into a debate topic, but for now, i think it's better suited in the lounge.

we all know people with pets, and some of us may have pets of our own. my question to you: is your pet more important than the life of a human, say like your neighbor who lives down the street?

of course i wouldn't expect you to compare your pet/s with a family member, because to some of us, pets are members of the family. but let's say you had to choose between funding a starving child on the other side of the planet vs financing your terminally ill pet's surgery, which would you choose?

i was browsing xanga, and one of the front page posts caught my attention. it was about a dog who had undergone $13g worth of surgery only to die the next day. the blogger questioned the morality in spending that amount of money on a dog, when s/he could've nourished 100+ children in a thirdworld country for a year.

personally, i would fund any surgery my dog would need. he's just that important to me.

[pandora]

my dog is like my baby. i'd do anything for him, so yeah.. i'd choose my dog over some other stranger. its the same as asking me if i'd choose one of my children over someone else's.

[MissHygienic]

Wow, this is something I actually have to think about. Putting your circumstances into consideration, here: starving child versus terminally ill dog. I am going to have to go with the child. If the dog is going to die the next day, anyway, I'd rather know that I fed a child for the day and, I don't know, know that the child didn't have to go another day without food. Rather than spending $13,000 on a pet that was going to die the following day.

[pandora]

well i doubt they knew that the dog would die the next day.

[MissHygienic]

Yeah, I know, and I doubt the people thought of starving children in third world countries when their dog was dying. But just that situation alone would make me pick the child.

This isn't really so much a morality issue, it's what we think is the best choice at the time. Humans thrive on self-interest, so it's not like we can expect others to think of other people all of the time.

[jaeman]

I really have to look at the options and weigh pros and cons in this situation. In general, it's really hard to make a decision involving the loss of life. Personally, the only pets I've ever had are numerous tropical fish, two turtles and two parakeets.

But that's besides the point, if the situation were between my beloved dog and a neighbor I knew next door, I would have probably chosen my beloved dog. But then, the choice varies to whom you've known the most and whoever you've been closest with.

And that's one of the attitudes some people exhibit: their mindset of animal's lives being lower than a human's life. Which totally irks me. Oh well, everyone has their pet peeves. On that note, I asked my friend this same question and he replied: "The neighbor. The dog will not be able to benefit society in anyway. This person would continue to pay his or her taxes, support the job market, and enjoy life freely, not as some person's happiness toy.

[Silly--x]

if i have a pet id treat it like my baby and yes it will be the MOST important thing in my life.. i remember my first dog Woody he ran away it was really sad ughrr and then my second dog Figo we had to give him away cause we were moving to an apartment and they're not allow dogs ughr

so yes i can say pets are more important than my life!

[NewUsername]

To be honest, I'd choose the life of my cat, who I've had most of my life, over a person I don't even know. D:

[tokyo-rose]

I think that most people would rather save their pets because they have a great attachment to them, as opposed to having no attachment to people they don't even know.

[Spirited Away]

And that's one of the attitudes some people exhibit: their mindset of animal's lives being lower than a human's life. Which totally irks me. Oh well, everyone has their pet peeves. On that note, I asked my friend this same question and he replied: "The neighbor. The dog will not be able to benefit society in anyway. This person would continue to pay his or her taxes, support the job market, and enjoy life freely, not as some person's happiness toy.

Well, I have a rebuttal for your friend.

First, let me explain that my dogs make me happy 24/7. When I'm down or stressed, all I have to do is look at them play or groom themselves and feel better. When I'm happy, I don't keep it to myself. In fact, for my oldest dog's birthday, I donated $50 to St. Jude's. For the anniversary of one of my other dog's adoption, I donated $50 to The Smile Train. This is an annual thing. I make other people feel good about themselves when I'm happy and I feel better about myself enough to where I'm confident that I benefit society, however little.

A dog isn't a toy. It's a life. However, if one of my dogs' death could save a human life, I'd would let my dog die to save that life. Human life is more valuable. HOWEVER, to say that a dog can't benefit society or that it's a "toy" is too demeaning and heartless, a comment that can only come from someone who has no love for animals.

A dog's worth depends on its human owner. If your friend thinks that a dog is useless, well, it reflects that the owner is useless to society as well, in my opinion.

[Luna5]

I don't even talk to my neighbors so of course my cat means more to me.

[lkajsfklajskds]

to me, people are more important. but thats hard to say because if it was saving a dog or a stranger, it might be the dog. actually, i dont know. i guess i would have to be in a position in which i was forced to choose.

[yayrachel]

i dont have a dog, but i do have a cat. and hes my baby. so yah, id pick him over someone i dont know, and probably some i do.

[queen]

On that note, I asked my friend this same question and he replied: "The neighbor. The dog will not be able to benefit society in anyway. This person would continue to pay his or her taxes, support the job market, and enjoy life freely, not as some person's happiness toy.

that was one of the responses i was waiting for. it's one thing to assume that there are people who think like this, and it's another to have someone actually say it. i can't find myself to think like that.

the original question may have been a little skewed so it became more of a question of family vs non family. so let's ask another question (one closer to pets vs human, but still equally as unrealistic):

to choose between your neighbor or his dog?

[1angel3]

Good question. I was walking to the pet store when a lady stop me in the parking lot. I had my last ten dollars and I was using it to get my bird some food. The lady ask me can she have some money because she's hungry. Honestly I didn't have it. This was a time I choose a animal over a human but I know my bird not the lady. I told her I have a hard time feeding my own pet, so I have no money for you. If I had the money for both the lady and my bird, I would be happy to help the lady out. But family and pets come first.

[Gryffindor-Girl]

well I have a good relationship with my neighbor and my cats mean allot to me but sometimes I feel like the mother doesn't like me much so I guess in the end I would have to say my cats.

[Yukkabelle]

If I were this neighbor, I would like that one saves my animals

[brooklyneast05]

this is the hardest question ever. my dogs are like my sons. i'd probably choose to save the human though.

[The-March-Hare]

I abstain.

I opt to ignore the issue until it goes away. Not my decision to make.

Colour me a cop-out, but there you go.

[libertie]

I would always without question choose the life of a human over the life of an animal. However, as others have said, I'm not saying that an animal such as a pet isn't valuable or that animals aren't able to provide joy for people.

[EddieV]

I'd put my pet into a Pokeball.

[luku]

Wow, this is something I actually have to think about. Putting your circumstances into consideration, here: starving child versus terminally ill dog. I am going to have to go with the child. If the dog is going to die the next day, anyway, I'd rather know that I fed a child for the day and, I don't know, know that the child didn't have to go another day without food. Rather than spending $13,000 on a pet that was going to die the following day.

^I totally agree with this. But my babies still come first!

[jaeman]

In conclusion, I would say it's a tie.