# The classic 'Who would you save, your drowning dog or a stranger?' question **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 12, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541 "2003-08-12T00:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alietta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@Alietta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alietta)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/21 "2003-08-12T07:45:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ale \* > \*\*c´mon it´s a FELLOW HUMAN BEING, your brother/sister in some way, I can´t grasp the idea of favouring the life of an animal over that, I really can´t. \*\* Just because we are the same species doesn’t mean jack. I have been lied to, betrayed, and hurt by my fellow human beings. Animals and humans are all just a bunch of cells. I don’t see anything that sets humans much better than dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/22 "2003-08-12T07:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that anyone who chose the dog over the stranger is someone who has not yet had to suffer through the death of a loved one. That’s not something I would wish on anyone else. \*\* Obviously, I can’t speak for the others who preferred to rescue their dog, but I have had the experience of my mother dying of cancer and slowly losing her mind in the process. There goes your theory. Baby versus dog? More difficult, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/23 "2003-08-12T07:50:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that anyone who chose the dog over the stranger is someone who has not yet had to suffer through the death of a loved one. That’s not something I would wish on anyone else. \*\* Having not been through such a situation yet, I say with firm conviction - my dog, without a moment’s doubt. Maybe my opinion would change after I experience the pain of losing a loved one. Maybe. But as of today, I’d take my dog over the stranger. Selfish, I know. So sue me. ---
**Author:** ![Alietta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@Alietta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alietta)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/24 "2003-08-12T07:50:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > \*\*So as long as the human race doesn’t go extinct, it’s okay to let people die? > > Great googly moogly. \*\* Humans don’t care about killing other animals, or even each other. I say yes. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/25 "2003-08-12T07:54:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alietta \* > **Humans don’t care about killing other animals, or even each other.** Wow, could you find a broader brush to paint everyone with? I don’t know what kind of people you’ve been around to make you feel this way, but I hope you don’t turn out the same as them. Although your willingness to condemn someone to death because of crappy past experiences with people indicates that you’re well on your way to that eventuality. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/26 "2003-08-12T07:54:47Z")
My dog gets saved, of course. All this talk of helping out a ‘fellow human’ and ‘the brotherhood of man’ is heartwarming and all, but a bunch of hypocritical rot. Everyday that petowner feeds his dog, he is not giving that money (dare I say, ‘and food’?) to charity. Everyday, people die of starvation in the world. You chose the life of your dog over the life of an anonymous human being. The rest of you non-pet owners aren’t off the hook, either. You bought a TV? What, with all the starvation going on in the world, and you spent a couple hundred life-giving dollars on a _TV_? Kaiser gets saved, Brutus goes home happy to feed Kaiser and watch his new TV, and they all (well…) live happily ever after. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/27 "2003-08-12T07:58:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > **Everyday that petowner feeds his dog, he is not giving that money (dare I say, ‘and food’?) to charity.** There’s a big difference between not donating to some nebulous charity and letting a person die right in fron of you when you could have prevented it. There’s really no comparison. ---
**Author:** ![The\_MacDairmuid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_MacDairmuid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_MacDairmuid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/28 "2003-08-12T08:08:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*If you decide to abandon the human and save the dog, you have condemmed someone to have to suffer through the death of their father, brother, or son; mother, sister or daughter. > > More likely you’re condemming a _number_ of people to suffer the agony of losing a loved one, crying themselves to sleep at night, and trying to rebuild their shattered lives. All so you could save a dog who’s death couldn’t _possibly_ cause that level of suffering. > > I don’t care _how_ much I love my pet; _no_ dog is worth that much. > > I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that anyone who chose the dog over the stranger is someone who has not yet had to suffer through the death of a loved one. That’s not something I would wish on anyone else. \*\* What about the agony I’d go through knowing that I deliberately let my dog die by drowning (a personal fear of mine) after so many years of friendship (she lived 17 years), so that I could save someone I’d never met. Let’s not forget the agony of my sister, and brothers, and parents, and their knowing that Sandy died as a result of my decision. When Sandy (my dog) finally did die of old age, she was the same age as my sister. Sandy was as much a family member as any of us humans. You should also know that Sandy–at least once–put her life on the line to guard mine. A bear had invaded our wilderness campsite and Sandy chased it into a tree and then drove it off. Later that day Roving Ranger Dan told us to be ware because there was an “aggressive female with two cubs” in the valley. So you’re asking me to choose between a stranger, or my friend for over half my life who has at least once defended my own life. I’m saving my dog. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/29 "2003-08-12T08:13:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*There’s a big difference between not donating to some nebulous charity and letting a person die right in fron of you when you could have prevented it. There’s really no comparison. \*\* Nebulous charity? Au contraire! There are many charities, (Doctors without Borders comes to mind) that are far from nebulous. They are saving lives _every day_. With your donations, they could save more. With my donations, they could save more, but I won’t give 'em a red cent. Every day, we all make decisions that if made differently, would save lives. We choose not too. Don’t get me wrong, I am not being judgemental. My little Kaiser snookums is ‘just a dog’, but hell, I would probably kill someone to save him, much less let someone die through an act of omission. (Technically, my parents dog, but who does he come running to when we all call him? Hell ya, me!) ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/30 "2003-08-12T08:17:48Z")
My dog’s name is **Brutus** 😃 And let me second what Brutus has just stated. Right now, I feel like going home and giving my dog a great big hug and then coming back to work!! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/31 "2003-08-12T10:32:01Z")
In every news story I’ve ever heard, the rescuer drowns and the hapless human and bedraggled dog somehow manage to struggle ashore; I’d not rescue either, but run to the nearest phone and call the coastguard. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/32 "2003-08-12T12:46:15Z")
I second Brutus’s points. I have an obligation to my dog. I have no obligation to such random stranger. And arguments about his possible family are bunk. He may well be a serial killer and I may be saving dozens by letting him drown. There’s no way to know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/33 "2003-08-12T12:48:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\* Everyday that petowner feeds his dog, he is not giving that money (dare I say, ‘and food’?) to charity. Everyday, people die of starvation in the world. You chose the life of your dog over the life of an anonymous human being. The rest of you non-pet owners aren’t off the hook, either. You bought a TV? What, with all the starvation going on in the world, and you spent a couple hundred life-giving dollars on a _TV_? > \*\* _bing_ I’ve already chosen. My cats get fed with money I could have used to help a person. And my charitable money goes to… animal rescue. Julie ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/34 "2003-08-12T13:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsgoddess \* > I’ve already chosen. **My cats get fed with money** I could have used to help a person. 8 out of 10 cats prefer to be fed with cat food. A Hahahaha ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/35 "2003-08-12T13:18:22Z")
I’d choose my dog. I feel that canine life is inherently more valuable than human life. Hell, I’d switch places with the dog and drown myself to save my dogs life. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/36 "2003-08-12T13:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*8 out of 10 cats prefer to be fed with cat food. > > A Hahahaha \*\* Mine have very expensive tastes! Er, or something? Julie ---
**Author:** ![Sinful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Sinful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinful)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/37 "2003-08-12T15:13:58Z")
I wouldn’t save either. No use making me a third victim that could possibly die. Instead I would dial 911 for help and let the pros handle it. Of course if I had to save one or the other I would probably help which ever one has been in the longest, probably the dog if the human went after it or vice versa. If I didn’t know which one was in first I would save the human first because they would be much easier to save since they would understand what would exactly need to be done, if you know what I mean? ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/38 "2003-08-12T15:15:03Z")
Thus the flaw with all such hypothetical questions: They demand a rational justification for irrational, gut-level decisions. If you’d save your dog instead of a stranger, then that’s what’ll happen. Don’t torture moral philosophy trying to justify it, though. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/39 "2003-08-12T15:29:22Z")
From a purely practical standpoint, a drowning human is a very dangerous thing and it’s a very very bad idea to get within arm’s reach of them in the water, as they will try to climb on top of you in order to stay afloat, and could end up drowning you. I’m not so sure a dog can do that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541/40 "2003-08-12T15:36:06Z")
I’d ask the stranger this question. If they answered “I’d save my dog,” I’d push them under myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-classic-who-would-you-save-your-drowning-dog-or-a-stranger-question/194541.md?page=3)