[STLCardsBlues1989]

You have probably heard about this. It happened in Tennessee. The rural homeowner forgot to pay his fire tag so the firefighters stood by and watched it burn, though they did save the house of a neighbor who had paid his fire tag. The firefighters stated that if a person had been in the house, they would have saved it. Unfortunately, three dogs and a cat did perish in the fire.

It's pretty sickening that we've gotten to the point where $75 costs four pets their lives.
Firefighters Let Home Burn After Finding Owner Didn't Pay Annual Fee

That got me thinking, how much is a pet's life worth? Should firefighters go into a building to save an animal? Or if a tornado were about to hit would you be trying to save your pets or yourself? This past summer we had two tornado warnings, though nothing happened. When the tornado watch came across the weather radio we got the dogs and cats into the bathroom just in case.

Are pets worth going back for if there is risk to the person rescuing them?

[livingenzyme]

Not meaning to politicize this, but this is just a a preview of what conservatives are proposing we do with our society: get rid of taxes and privatize everything.

[swagger]

Originally Posted by livingenzyme

Not meaning to politicize this, but this is just a a preview of what conservatives are proposing we do with our society: get rid of taxes and privatize everything.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

BTW, this guy didn't "forget" to pay the fee. He's already been quoted saying that he thought they'd put the fire out even if he didn't pay.

It's sad that he lost his home and pets, but he has no one to blame but himself.

[lifelongMOgal]

Yep, those pets are dead because the owner did not take personal responsibility to protect his private property, including his pets. Very sad.

[MissNM]

I also heard on the radio that the guy didn't have homeowner's insurance either. Probably didn't have batteries in his smoke detectors, either.

Sounds like personal negligence all the way around.

I'm very sad for the animals, but not the owner.

[trlhiker]

The pets were the innocent victums here. The owner was an idiot plan and simple. he should be charged with animal cruelty.

[MissNM]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

Are pets worth going back for if there is risk to the person rescuing them?

It's a tough call. I'd be more inclined to risk my life for MY own pets.

But someone else's? I would do everything I could, but I need to think about my human family and our pets. Where would they be without me?

[Bulldogdad]

The idiot homeowner started the fire by burning trash unsupervised. This guy was a total butt klingon all the way around.

[flkingfan]

To me it just seems totally wrong that they did not try to save his home. Whether there was someone in there or not, it just seems unethical to me just because a $75 fee was not paid. Now people of that community will be paying more than $75, I'm sure Red Cross or some other organization is helping him with housing and clothing, and where do you think that money comes from?

[latetotheparty]

yep .... the public pays one way or another........