Would you rather have your dog die or a complete stranger?

Question

I saw a debate on another website about how Americans love their dogs too much, and the question was presented, "Would you rather have your dog die or a complete stranger?" It was agreed that the value of a human's life is more than a dog's.

Why do humans think this way? If the dog was someone in our family and we had to choose between them and a complete stranger, we would choose someone in our family instead. I wouldn't choose a complete stranger over my dog. A dog is part of the family unit and some stranger is not. There are BILLIONS of humans on the Earth. I would spare one of those billion for a part of my family.

I bring this to religion because in most religions, humans are thought to be the ultimate rulers and are superior to animals. What do you think, if you had to choose who would die, a complete stranger, or a family dog/pet, which would you choose?

Answer 1

I am very compassionate about dogs. And I am being honest, not idealistic. I'd have feeling for my dog, but not for a stranger. I'd probably choose to keep my dog. Moreover, I feel that it's a question of life versus life and I am not sure I agree to the fact that humans are superior to dogs, although it might seem obvious.

Answer 2

Hmm Maybe I do not understand the context of your question but strangers (strangers to me) die everyday.
So is the question posed as I am standing there with my dog and a stranger and someone asks me to pick one to die?

And true my dogs are members of the family but I have to wonder about the strangers family.
If the case scenario were that they were both with me I would stop and think "this stranger is someones husband, son or dad"
Could I look a kid in the eye and say "Yes dear I let your daddy die so I could have my dog"? I don't think I could do that.

Answer 3

There was a show once, I think an amazing stories or twilight zone, something like that.

A man shows up and offers this really poor struggling couple a lot of money. In return someone they dont know, a total strange would drop dead. They would never know who it was. They at first say no way but then some things happen and their money situation becomes desperate so they finally agree to the deal. The man gives them their money and as he is leaving the couple asks where he was going to next.
The man says that he is going to visit someone else and offer them the same deal. The couple seems concerned and asks who. The man says oh dont worry, it is someone you dont know.

This question reminded me of that show.


In a philosophy class the teacher presented a similar question. If your dog was tied to a train track and a child murderer was tied to a train track and you only had time to save one person, who would you save. Most people said their dog.

Answer 4

I would save a complete stranger over a dog any day! One being, the complete stranger probably might have family that loves and needs them. If I was the complete stranger, I'd want someone to save me. My kids need me in their lives, and I need them! As sad as it is that a dog would die, would break my heart. My kids not having a mother, would shatter my entire heart into pieces!

Answer 5

Amadeus,
I would prefer that the dog die to a complete stranger. The dog has no chance of heaven but the stranger, given time might be able to attain a place in heaven. Our FATHER sent HIS SON so that all would have an opportunity to be in Heaven and it would be my hope that the additional time might give that person an opportunity to become a Christian if he/she had not already done so. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank You,
Eds

EDIT:
My family and I have always loved and cared for many animals but I place the value of a human life above any animal's life.


.

Answer 6

my dog of several years have never told me
you don't make enough money
your house is not clean enough
clean up your yard
stop burning gas
vote this way
give to this charity
donate or support this cause
he never judges me.............ever


but if someone said, if your dog dies, my child can live, then I would chose the life of the child

but that is not really the choice, is it. it is never that simple or that right and wrong.
the fact that i FEED my dog well is NOT cause of hunger
the fact that I take my dog to the vet is not the cause of poor medical care
by denying my dog a treat does not enrich the life of any person, it it was, then I would choose a person

Answer 7

I happen to be an animal lover! I own 6 strays that I rescued and my mom has three. All felines. My mom and dad loved dogs and raised collies when I was a child. I grew up with pets and love them and value them as members of the family. But to place their lives in a more important position than a strangers is wrong! People, WE were created in God's image! We are here to serve God and interact with our fellow human beings. To teach and learn from one another! To deny any human their God given chance to be here and fulfill God's plan for him or her is wrong! God can give a beloved pet back to you. But a human is here for a reason and the lives of humans were so important to God that He gave His Son, Jesus to take our sins so that we could be reconciled back to our Creator.

Folks, get balanced here! I love my pets too. It is hard to have a pet die.(I am still grieving over the last animal that died of kidney failure about a year ago) They really are members of my family. But it would be wrong to place their lives above the life of another human being, as much as I love them.

Answer 8

Most dogs I know are better than a lot of people.

I don't own a dog - but I hope to have one in the future - and I would definitely choose to keep my dog over somebody I didn't know.

In fact - if it was not my dog - but just some dog I knew - I would still choose the dog over a complete human stranger.

And - even if it was a dog I didn't know - and a human I didn't know. I still might choose the dog.

I really like dogs.

Namaste!!

Answer 9

(The Animal Activists are largely to be blamed for this.)


As much as I love my cat and dog*,
I CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW YOU COULD EVEN ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT LIKE THIS!!!

Your saying if I read it right, that you'd allow a Human to die before a pet!!!
Which you would see in heaven anyway.

I can only hope that you are not put in the reverse situation, because, believe me funnier things have happened!*
So out of the Gazillion pets on this earth, someone would not spare you, one of the Billions of people, for their pet?

Strange when the shoes on the other foot, or can you not comprehend that?

To follow Jesus you must give up everything, including your family. And Obey Christ!
As much as we Love our family, we must put Christ First, and if that means losing family, you will be rewarded for it in Heaven.

Mathew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Answer 10

Me a SPIRITUAL satanist in my personal opnion I would try and save both.But thats just because its the right thing to do nothin with religion.I skiped school and ran 1mile and a half in the morning in the freezing to save a cat that ended up dieing the end.I even gave the cat my own sweat shirt to keep it warm but thats just the kind of person I am.All things have right to life one is not above another.