I think this thread shows that people have too much time off work at this time of year.
Hindsight = not such a sensible thing to do
In the moment = instinct
Don't over analyse it. All is well.
Well said butcher,hope I'm never in that situation with my dog or any member of my family,well done xterramac.
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This would all be solved by making life jackets compulsory for dogs.
Along with insurance and road tax.
That dog hasn't got a helmet on.
OP, you obviously feel a strong bond with your dog, and you did what you felt you had to do at the time. Well done. That compassion is one of the greatest features of the human race. It just doesn't seem very prevalent on STW.
Except that when considered rationally it's actually displaying a lack of compassion for your loved ones and for those who might end up trying to rescue you.
It's understandable in the heat of the moment but it's a completely irrational thing to do.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-man-dies-after-2958120
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/man-dies-trying-to-rescue-dog-from-ambleside-river-1-6334495
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/11/27/california-boy-parents-swept-out-sea-dog-rescue-attempt/UNMkqrHIwCOYgakfxn33dN/story.html
The search was called off Monday for a teenager whose parents were killed after they plunged into the cold, powerful surf in Northern California in a nightmarish chain of events that started when their son tried to save the family dog from drowning. Eureka residents Mary Elena Scott, 57, and Howard Gregory Kuljian, 54, both drowned Saturday, said Ariel Gruenthal, a deputy coroner in Humboldt County. The boy, Gregory James Kuljian, has not been found and is presumed dead.
Of course, our survival often depends on prioritising the importance of our own being, that of our family, and even of our species. But to state, like it is an absolute fact of the universe, that human beings are the most important thing on this planet, is * stupid. We're only important to ourselves.
I think most posters were speaking for themselves and not claiming they were the most important thing in the universe as if it was actually a true fact universally accepted.
You have no more compassion for those you disagree with who you call * stupid and arrogant.That compassion is one of the greatest features of the human race. It just doesn't seem very prevalent on STW.
If you want to risk death for a dog and possible leave your kids and spouse behind whilst calling everyone else who does not do this selfish then that is your choice.
I dont think it is what I would choose but as grum notes i doubt I would be doing a rational risk assesment/cost benefit analysis
I'm with Grum and binners, and everyone else on this thread who has mentioned the dog not being on a lead.
Someone up there ^ mentioned this: we only hear about the dog rescues that go wrong. This is true. We don't hear about the dog rescues that go right. So the conclusion is that all dog rescues are dangerous.
Imagine you're a non-cyclist: the media carry stories of the cyclists killed in London. There are no stories of the thousands upon thousands of journeys made every day with no problems at all. One might conclude that riding a bike means you will certainly die under a lorry.
Therefore, perhaps the conclusion is that, while there is risk in rescuing one's dog, one will not necessarily die - and neither will anyone else.
For the record, my dogs are always on leads unless I know for absolute certain that there are no hazards.
"Dive" into a river in spate to save a dog? No chance. Wade in after assessing the flow and the run out area if I got washed of my feet? Possibly, depending on the flow and depth.
Years ago I watched a person drown 50 yards out into a fast flowing shoulder deep river as I assessed there was no way I would get near him in the prevailing conditions. Not jumping in wasn't an easy thing to do but it was the correct thing. It was later established that the only reason he wasn't getting washed rapidly downstream was because of the heavy steel drain cover he had tied to his ankles before jumping off the bridge.
A friend of my dads survived years of summer and winter climbing at a high level then drowned in a river crossing.
Was the OP correct to save his dog? I wasn't there so I don't know, it depends on the water conditions and his swimming ability.
Have we done cats, would you save a cat?
^nahh 😛
Have we done cats, would you save a cat?
No way! If I've just put six kittens and a brick in a pillow case and dropped them off the canal bridge then I'm hardly going to jump in and fish then out again. (Even if the canal water is static and only four feet deep)
It's difficult to see how you'd end up in a river while eating, sleeping of terrorising small rodents, so I doubt you'd ever need to rescue a cat.
I have never found a walk where I can be certain there are no hazards. But I would rather not have a dog at all than restrict them to exercising only on a lead. How selfish would that be?
You would just do it where the hazards are, like most dog owners do.
[i]Have we done cats, would you save a cat? [/i]
People who would jump into a river to save a cat are dead inside.
by the way, this just popped up on my twitter feed.
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You would just do it where the hazards are, like most dog owners do.
and most cyclists jump red lights. 🙄
molgrips - Member
You would just do it where the hazards are, like most dog owners do.
True. But there are always unexpected hazards. The issue is how best to respond. And the advice from most emergency services would always be to avoid putting yourself at risk. As a lifeguard you are trained that the last measure is to enter the water whether for a human or an animal. And even in the water, you don't put yourself at risk.
I would have gone in for the mutt. A few years ago in Wales we saw a dog run over a cliff and disappear although we could hear yelping. The owner was distraught and the only help we could offer was to call mountain rescue. They advised they wouldn't come out for a dog which is fair enough. I asked the guy on the phone would he leave his or attempt to climb down. We met them walking up with the absaling gear so they only had the dog to rescue not a person. The guy later tracked us down through Mountain Rescue to thank us. Mutt and man safe. Hurray for daft dogs and Mountain Rescue!
Such sad people.
Well done OP, but think next time.
OP here, thanks for all the comments, sorry I've not put any pics of "solo" up, not that computer savvy. But for the record he is a collie.
A couple of things worth mentioning, yes I am a very strong swimmer(as that was asked)and secondly, hindsight is awesome!! I was deffo pretty stupid to go in right away, but like I said, I love that dog, he is my best pal. Id have gone in to save your dog too or your kid, cat, hamster, even you "binners" at the time, however if anything like that was to happen again I would certainly have a think first, a lot of you guys/gals are right, it could have gone to shite.
Cheers Macs
Solo?
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I'd thank you for going in after my kid, but I'd hold you back from going in after my dog. Unless it was wading i to shallows or something.
OP, that was a totally stupid thing to do.
I would have done exactly the same!
We'll done OP, chapeau!
Had to fish my 6 month old pup out a couple if weeks ago when she dived in not realising a carpet of leaves had built up behind a fallen tree. Not good and lesson learned to avoid any possibility of a repeat.
Hi Xterramac and all,
I hope you don't mind me posting here. I work for a TV company in London called Pioneer Productions and we’re producing a fast turnaround documentary for Channel 4 on the recent storms and flooding.
The documentary will focus on human interest stories, interviews with experts and clear explanations of the science and meteorology. I am keen to speak to someone like yourself xterramac, who on instinct will jump into a potentially dangerous situation to save a pet/loved one.
As this can be somewhat of a sensitive issue, I would like to speak to you further about this on the phone/email, rather than a public forum, if you were happy to. I can be contacted on lisa.murphy@pioneertv.com and perhaps we could arrange a time to speak.
Please note that there is no obligation to be involved if you get in contact, I would just like to explain the documentary to you further.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Many thanks and stay safe,
Lisa Murphy-O’Reilly
Assistant Producer
www.pioneertv.com
After a dog? Not a chance. They are basically floating barrels with excellent buoyancy. After a kid? Yes after assessing flow, conditions and availability of flotation devices. And I was a lifeguard.
Hard to say what I'd do in this exact circumstance. Would I leave my dog to drown or go in after him?
Happened here a few years ago. Owner died. Dog got out.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7137877.stm
