Posted on 11/26/2012 9:41:34 AM PST by ColdOne
A couple died and their 16-year-old son went missing after being swept into sea in Northern California while trying to save their dog, authorities said Sunday.
The family was at Big Lagoon, a beach north of Eureka, Saturday afternoon when the dog chased after a thrown stick and got pulled into the ocean by eight to ten foot waves, said Dana Jones, a state Parks and Recreation district superintendent.
~~~SNIP~~~
The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That is so sad.
That is so sad.
That is so sad.
As a father and husband, I largely agree with your take on the situation as to who should and shouldn’t go in—though I am not sure that Mrs. H would make the decision that I would hope she would.
That said, I would be quite annoyed in this life at my kid for going in after the dog—if the dog is in trouble it is a good sign that no one should be in the water (I grew up on the Oregon coast). On the other hand, I trust that God takes us when it is best, so I hope that I wouldn’t be too ticked in the afterlife.
I can see the son’s point—if he got Dad into trouble, he has a duty to get him out (though I would still say to him cut your losses). Risking one’s life so that one wouldn’t have to live with that is understandable—though if he has already been in once he is likely to be more of a liability than a help.
In the end, the advice to think things out ahead of time is good because decisions under pressure often are not the greatest.
Yeah—responsible for getting the dog into trouble, but not obliged to risk one’s life to get the pooch out of trouble. Two wrongs do not make a right. If he had just held tight, everything would have been ok. I’m not sure what kind of dog was involved, but if it was big enough to be fetching sticks in the surf, it is probably a far better swimmer in those sorts of conditions than any human being, or at least anyone who is not a SEAL.
“People don’t make these decisions saying, “I’m going to risk my life to save my dog.””
That’s why I say, make these decisions in advance of a crisis. Of course they didn’t think they were risking their lives. That’s because there was a sudden crisis and they were reacting emotionally.
“You throw the stick into waters, you are responsible for your dog.”
Yes, you are responsible, but not to the point of risking your life to save his. Human and animal lives are not equivalent.
Fido was probably named in the will. It was his plan all along.
Waves move things up and down. Currents move things from place to place. Walk down the beach ‘til doggie clears the rip current, and doggie will swim right to you. Or go in to save doggie and die.
In this situation, you get another dog and try to be less of an asshole to the new animal.
I don’t know how many signs they have to put up in Northern California to keep people from trying to swim where there is deadly undertow.
Hubby and I for years vacationed during the “off season” (November) at the Wine Coast in Northern California, and we did some beach walks, but we kept a good eye out for large swells, and we never once dipped in a toe.
There are numerous signs warning of swells and undertow. There are clear explanations of what can happen, what to watch for, what to do, and what NOT to do. These people definitely did what not to do.
It is really sad that three people gave their lives attempting to save a dog that saved itself, but I am happy that their daughter and the dog are all right.
God bless the child, for her mourning must be unbearable. May God grant her solace.
photos of family and dog at link
They should not have been playing “catch” in 10 foot waves. There was a chance it could go wrong.
And, when the son went after the dog, I’m sure he felt he could find it. You don’t make a rational decision to die for your pet.
Sorry they tempted fate.
And:
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/11/parents-teenage-boy-die-saving-dog-swept-away-sea
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