# Would you drive drunk to save your dying pet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211 "2006-01-16T12:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/41 "2006-01-17T03:46:30Z")
I wouldn’t. Not because it’s morally wrong or whatever, but when I’m drunk I shut down to the outside world- I don’t even talk unless I’m asked a question (making me the world’s most boring drunk). It wouldn’t occur to me to make the attempt to bring them anywhere, I don’t think. Drinking does very little for me and I rarely do because of that, so I doubt I’d ever be in this situation, thank God. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/42 "2006-01-17T03:52:09Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Hijack: Just a bit of advice to pet owners, especially newcomers: find out where the nearest 24-hr emergency animal hospital is _now_. Good advice. You could just ask your regular vet next time. And if you don’t take this advice and find yourself with a veterinary emergency in the middle of night, try calling your regular vet. Mine has the local emergency animal clinic’s number on the answering machine greeting. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/43 "2006-01-17T03:59:53Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I _do_ live in a high population density area, middle of a city with a population of over 150,000. Neighbors _are_ a minute’s walk away. But it still takes time to rouse one. And I don’t know any of them well enough that I’m confident they’d do it. There is an emergency animal clinic that’s open all night, but they don’t make house calls. > > It doesn’t help that the city is built around car traffic. There are very few taxis in town because everyone drives their own car. Are you in Huntsville? That, together with your location, sounds like Huntsville. I ask only because my best friend is a vet in Huntsville! ---
**Author:** ![hr\_lenning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/90ced4/32.png) [@hr\_lenning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hr_lenning)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/44 "2006-01-17T04:10:23Z")
I wouldn’t drive the pet drunk because I don’t drink however I do alot of meth and that wouldn’t be a problem for me at all. I drive my pets all the time when I’m on meth and think it’s actually quite funny so I guess to answer your question Yes I would. :wally ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/45 "2006-01-17T04:28:58Z")
> [@hr\_lenning](#): > > I wouldn’t drive the pet drunk because I don’t drink however I do alot of meth and that wouldn’t be a problem for me at all. I drive my pets all the time when I’m on meth and think it’s actually quite funny so I guess to answer your question Yes I would. :wally Is it true that meth bangs up your teeth? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/46 "2006-01-17T05:33:48Z")
I would. In a heartbeat. If it was an out of the blue emergency and I was too drunk to drive, I’d call a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/47 "2006-01-17T07:10:39Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Shakes: Wassa matta boy… Don’ feel so good? You’re a good doggy dog. I love you. Wanna go for a ride? > > Shakes Dog: “Cough Wheeze” … No… no… I’m fine… I’ve still got some woof left in me. > > Shakes: Com’ on it’ll be fun. You like rides don’t you boy? > > Shakes Dog: Yeah… it was a real amusing “ride” when you told me I was going with you to be “tutored”. > > Shakes: Don’t be like that … sometimes I wish I could get rid of mine. They’re soo much trouble, and they make me do stupid things. That’s why I drink… > > Shakes Dog: To forget? > > Shakes: Nah… just to get shit faced so I can do stupid things. Let’s ride! That’s the best chuckle I’ve had all day!! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/48 "2006-01-17T13:57:48Z")
> [@hr\_lenning](#): > > I wouldn’t drive the pet drunk because I don’t drink however I do alot of meth and that wouldn’t be a problem for me at all. I drive my pets all the time when I’m on meth and think it’s actually quite funny so I guess to answer your question Yes I would. :wally Welcome to the SDMB, **hr\_lenning**. The use of the “putz” smiley is considered a personal insult, and as such, is forbidden outside the BBQ Pit. Do not do that again. Please acquaint yourself with the [FAQ - guidelines for posting at the SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106617) before you post again. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/49 "2006-01-17T16:56:18Z")
Yeah, sure. . .what the hell. If you’re going to rule out option C, it’s tough though. I mean. . .how drunk I am and how life-threatening I deem the dog’s injuries is the entire crux of the matter, no? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/50 "2006-01-17T17:07:38Z")
If the dog’s critical injuries are due to my drunkenly running him over, I’d have to seriously weigh my options. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/51 "2006-01-17T17:12:34Z")
No. Odds are, I’d cause (my driving being what it is) more harm than it would be worth. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/52 "2006-01-17T17:13:08Z")
Oh God, yes. Of course, chances are high that my pet is a bird and not a dog or cat. But I love my birds, and a parrot would certainly be rushed to the emergency room…they live 20 years at minimum and some more, so I hope no one thinks birds are less important! I have driven impaired before, although never drunk. We honestly didn’t realize the sangria was all that strong, and ended up finishing a pitched between us - it was so good! Anyway, I’d just drive slowly and carefully but of course I would go. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/53 "2006-01-17T18:03:52Z")
My cat Sasha was hit by a car Friday night. My neighbor found her and called the number on her collar. As soon as she told me where she was, I was out the door running. She was dead by the time I got there (the neighbor didn’t see the accident happen, so I don’t know how long before she had been hit), but if she had still been breathing, I can tell you that I would not for a second have even _thought_ about whether I was ok to drive (luckily, I hadn’t been drinking that night). I would have run to my car and sped to the vet. If I could see that no other car was coming, I’d probably have run red lights and stop signs, too. So, while I’d say that my pet’s life is not worth endangering others, I doubt that I’d be calm or coherent enough to follow through on that conscious belief. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211/54 "2006-01-17T23:22:14Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > In my youth I drove drunk several times, yeah yeah, it was stupid, but I always felt I was in enough control to drive. And honestly, not to get MADD on me but I’ve always thought that if you’re right around the legal limit you’re actually a lot better off than people say…that’s always been my experience. I do agree that driving is hazardous enough as it is, and people shouldn’t be driving above the legal limit (although I’m not too critical of people who drive at 0.8/0.9 since that used to be legal.) But at the same time I think a lot of the information about driving impaired is more or less bullshit. {hijack}Now to be fair, it’s not just “people” that say it is bad to drive, but studies showing increased impairment. That being said, I agree that the increases in impairment are blown out of proportion. If I am a crappy borderline tired driver and not used to alcohol, my performance at 0.07 may very well be far more dangerous than the performance of a skilled, rested driver at 0.1. The law as written is quite arbitrary based on hysteria, emotion, and badly mangled statistics. The people driving at 0.09 are the not the real problem. The real problem are the repeat offenders driving well over 0.1{/hijack} I’d do it if I was moderately drunk (0.08 range) but not if I had to ask the lamp post to help me put the keys in the lock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drive-drunk-to-save-your-dying-pet/340211.md?page=2)