Man Who Rescued Dog From Fire Says He'll Fight Charges Against Him

NewsChannel 5 ^

[Catspaw]

That might be the policy, and even if it weren't I'll bet some firefighters would go in anyway, but the guy still shouldn't be punnished for risking his own life. That's almost like saying he doesn't own his own life; instead it's community property.

And if he died or got injured by going back into the fire to save his dog, you mean his family wouldn't sue the fire department for failing to do its job? Tell me another story.

A few weeks ago, there was a house fire in my neighborhood (started by a candle BTW). AFTER the firefighters put out the fire, they went back in to search for and did rescue the four cats the owner had. They even gave the cats oxygen and made arrangements for a vet's office to stay open so they could give the cats a good exam and treatment if needed. But it was ONLY after the occupants were out and safe, the fire was put out and they deemed it safe enough to in to find their pets.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The 9/11 firefighters went in to rescue people who had not freely chosen to be in a burning/collapsing building. Big difference.

[Rifleman]

The reality is that dogs are not JUST property. They are our symbiotes and should be treated that way. I hope the prosecutor uses his head and if not I hope the jury does its job.

[HairOfTheDog]

Dang.... I didn't see yours, and I posted the story too...

Video footage at the source of this thread:

Man Arrested for Entering Burning Home [to save his dog]

[Poohbah]

But at what point can you say he shouldn't be allowed to risk his life because other people would risk theirs to save him.

At exactly that point.

What if the dog was his only companion and had saved his life?

What if he gets in over his head--a not-unlikely-circumstance for someone completely untrained in firefighting--and a firefighter gets crippled or killed rescuing him?

What if he's trying to save an invaluable heirloom?

What if he gets in over his head--a not-unlikely-circumstance for someone completely untrained in firefighting--and a firefighter gets crippled or killed rescuing him?

How about if he's uninsured without family and all his money and valuables (his only hope to retire comfortably) are inside? (saying he's not the brightest guy in the world)

What if he gets in over his head--a not-unlikely-circumstance for someone completely untrained in firefighting--and a firefighter gets crippled or killed rescuing him?

[Poohbah]

Great, he's reproduced already.

[Poohbah]

The reality is that dogs are not JUST property. They are our symbiotes and should be treated that way.

Are your PETA dues paid up?

[HairOfTheDog]

What if he gets in over his head--a not-unlikely-circumstance for someone completely untrained in firefighting--and a firefighter gets crippled or killed rescuing him?

That didn't happen though.

[Catspaw]

The 9/11 firefighters went in to rescue people who had not freely chosen to be in a burning/collapsing building. Big difference.

Not for the firefighters. They made a choice to go in to the WTC to save the people trapped inside. Had he been fried by a backdraft (and it's not just a hokey movie), the firefighters would've been at risk to rescue him, or what was left of him.

[r9etb]

I tend to agree. Who's life is it after all.

It's the life of the fire fighter who has to go rescue Jarrod Martin's sorry ass if he'd gotten trapped himself.

I'm glad the guy's OK, and his dog is alive.

But he did a stupid thing that potentially endangered a lot of lives besides his own.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The building had already been evacuated of people, and the firefighters were strictly trying to protect property at that point. They just prioritized the apartments over the dog. The dog's owner prioritized differently -- free country, and all that. No firefighter should be expected to rescue an adult who freely chose to go into a burning building against firefighters' or police advice. People sometimes do this to try to rescue their children as well, after firefighters have deemed the rescue attempt too risky -- should they be arrested and charged too?

[Catspaw]

The reality is that dogs are not JUST property. They are our symbiotes and should be treated that way. I hope the prosecutor uses his head and if not I hope the jury does its job.

I do believe it's one of those fuzzy-headed liberal communities in California who wants to reclassify pets from property to companions. I see you're in agreement with them.

And I am a dog owner.

[ErnBatavia]

Who's life is it after all.

Perhaps the life of a firefighter, had he gotten stuck in there. This is one of those "no easy answer" situations that sometimes happens in life.

[Poohbah]

No firefighter should be expected to rescue an adult who freely chose to go into a burning building against firefighters' or police advice.

Too bad life doesn't work like that.

[BSunday]

Since you started it, here's a couple of bad dog stories I read the other day in Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader:

One family went out for the evening and left their dog "Lucky" in the utility room, as was their custom. When they returned, they found thier house was a pile of rubble and the dog wagging his tail. Seems he accidently turned on some sort of LP gas driven item (heater or something, I forget) and when the hot water heater came on, Bang! the dog was thrown clear of the explosion and was totally unscathed

In another bad dog story, a man was walking his dog and had a heart attack. He passed out on the ground. The dog, meanwhile, successfully kept potential rescuers at bay by standing over his master and barking/growling at them. Finally one of the family members showed up but it was too late.

[Sir Gawain]

Had he been fried by a backdraft

What if what if what if. Did a backdraft happen? No. The firefighter chief was wrong.

I'm not surprised you would sit there and let your pet get barbecued, but some people care about their animals.

[HairOfTheDog]

Lots of things we do to save what is important could rationally be thought of as "risky and stupid". That is why it is extra cool when people get away with it.

[Brian S]

Thanks for bringing the video link over. You must have seen it at the same time I did.