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Merged 8.8 quake in Sendai, Japan

I think you're missing a point here. One of the main problems in getting people out of a danger zone is reluctance to leave pets behind. One of the main factors impelling them to go back in is the desire to rescue a pet. Arrangements for evacuating companion animals are essential if only for this reason.

Rolfe.

That I can agree with. Personally, if I were to evacuate in a hurry, I would probably grab some of the crucial objects I have before I even thought about the pet(s).
 
Do you think closing their hearts would improve people's chances of long-term recovery and survival?

I can hear that strawman playing violin, right now ! :rolleyes:

I said we should focus on the HUMANS. You know, our species. How is that closing our hearts ? Are you going to save the plants, too ? How about the wildlife ?
 
One woman said she was riding her horse when the warning was sounded. She shoved some stuff in her car and drove off to safety.

I was thinking, in some of the situations we saw, being on horseback might have been an advantage, in being able to strike across country rather than being confined to a road. However, perhaps she knew her route out by car was clear. And maybe figured the horse had a better chance without her on its back, too.

Rolfe.
 
I can hear that strawman playing violin, right now ! :rolleyes:

I said we should focus on the HUMANS. You know, our species. How is that closing our hearts ? Are you going to save the plants, too ? How about the wildlife ?

Is it impossible to focus on both humans and animals simultaneously and particularly on animals that are in a symbiotic relationship with humans, i.e. pets?

That I can agree with. Personally, if I were to evacuate in a hurry, I would probably grab some of the crucial objects I have before I even thought about the pet(s).

Do you even have a pet? If so, I'm glad I'm not it. Can I be one of your crucial objects, instead? ;)
 
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I think you're missing a point here. One of the main problems in getting people out of a danger zone is reluctance to leave pets behind. One of the main factors impelling them to go back in is the desire to rescue a pet. Arrangements for evacuating companion animals are essential if only for this reason.

Rolfe.

I'm maybe just arguing over something for the sake of it, but I'd hate to think of a relative or loved one dying because the rescue services were busy trying to rescue a cat of someone who refused to leave without it.
 
I can hear that strawman playing violin, right now ! :rolleyes:

I said we should focus on the HUMANS. You know, our species. How is that closing our hearts ? Are you going to save the plants, too ? How about the wildlife ?
Humans are emotionally attached to their companion animals. Sometimes, these animals offer things of untold value, such as blind dogs for the blind. But compansionship itself should not be underestimated.

To disregard the importance of companion animals to their owners is offensive to those very humans who you seem to hold in higher regard than other creatures. If the humans are important then, by extension, so are their dearest pets.
 
Humans are emotionally attached to their companion animals. Sometimes, these animals offer things of untold value, such as blind dogs for the blind. But compansionship itself should not be underestimated.

To disregard the importance of companion animals to their owners is offensive to those very humans who you seem to hold in higher regard than other creatures. If the humans are important then, by extension, so are their dearest pets.

If we are having to choose then surely you would save your family before your pet? I'm just assuming here that everyone would have a priority system that would place their relatives and loved ones above the family dog.

The family next door will also have the same priority list surely.

Now, given that, I would find it very hard to argue that my dog is more important than your baby (for example) using anything other than simply selfishness as a justification.

Now it might be understandable and human to be selfish in this kind of situation but if I'm working in the rescue services then I'd expect to be prioritising human lives over animals roughly 100% of the time.
 
That I can agree with. Personally, if I were to evacuate in a hurry, I would probably grab some of the crucial objects I have before I even thought about the pet(s).

Personally I would grab my pet, and leave the rest. Except my pet, there is nothing so essential I would have to carry with me, and paper can be replaced if lost. My pet can't.
 
If we are having to choose then surely you would save your family before your pet? I'm just assuming here that everyone would have a priority system that would place their relatives and loved ones above the family dog.

The family next door will also have the same priority list surely.

Now, given that, I would find it very hard to argue that my dog is more important than your baby (for example) using anything other than simply selfishness as a justification.

Now it might be understandable and human to be selfish in this kind of situation but if I'm working in the rescue services then I'd expect to be prioritising human lives over animals roughly 100% of the time.

Lost in a fog of either/or.
 
I'm maybe just arguing over something for the sake of it, but I'd hate to think of a relative or loved one dying because the rescue services were busy trying to rescue a cat of someone who refused to leave without it.

It usually isn't the same rescue service which do pet and human in a catastrophe. Think of Animal society / government service.

Plus at some point you will have to worry about it, and whereas i understand your point on cat, I would rather that they gather dog before they become hungry, feral, and dangerous for people.
 
Lost in a fog of either/or.

Which is the situation I was discussing. Of course if we're in a situation where there is limitless time and resources to rescue everyone and everything we don't need to worry about priorities. I wouldn't say that typically characterises an earthquake/tsunami.

It usually isn't the same rescue service which do pet and human in a catastrophe. Think of Animal society / government service.

Plus at some point you will have to worry about it, and whereas i understand your point on cat, I would rather that they gather dog before they become hungry, feral, and dangerous for people.

I was under the impression that there would be limited numbers of specially trained people going into these disaster zones so you wouldn't necessarily have animal rescue people trying to save moggie from a collapsing building.

I agree that you have to worry about it at some point but I was talking more about critical life and death situations.
 
Passport, wallet and run.
Sounds like an old legal company. It's been my survival mantra for many years.
 
Is it impossible to focus on both humans and animals simultaneously and particularly on animals that are in a symbiotic relationship with humans, i.e. pets?

Not impossible, but spending energy on the pets runs the higher risk of losing humans and I'm not willing to take that chance.

Do you even have a pet?

I took great care of the pets I had, thank you very much. In an emergency where human lives are at stake, however, you can bet they'll be my last consideration.

Can I be one of your crucial objects, instead? ;)

I'll need pictures, first. ;)
 
That I can agree with. Personally, if I were to evacuate in a hurry, I would probably grab some of the crucial objects I have before I even thought about the pet(s).

I'd love to hear your definition of "crucial objects" that are more valuable than a pet(s) life.
 
I'd love to hear your definition of "crucial objects" that are more valuable than a pet(s) life.

Not going to speak on Belz's behalf but for me it would depend greatly on the situation. Depending on the particular hazard...

Drinking water
Wallet
Mobile Phone
Rifle
First Aid Kid
Generator
Fuel
Car Keys
Food

that kind of thing that might actually help me preserve the life of my family.
 
Well, maybe the best indicator will come from looking at Kobe. That place was utterly devastated in 1995 with over six thousand killed from the earthquake and fire (no tsunamis though, as far as I am aware).

But five years later there was almost no evidence of any damage.

I was there in '97, and there were few obvious signs of damage then, though there were probably more building sites than otherwise might have been expected, and still some people living in temporary accommodation in public parks.
 
If I was running from a tsunami though, which has a very restricted scope of destruction with what remains outside being unaffected, I'd get the pet before most of that.

Having said that, of course I'd get family members before the pet!

Rolfe.
 
I'd love to hear your definition of "crucial objects" that are more valuable than a pet(s) life.

Depends on the pet. The goldfish wouldn't get a look-in.

As much as I do somewhat agree with Belz and am not someone who either has a pet nor think pets are particularly high up the list of priorities the Japanese media do play a few stories about finding pets alive in the rubble and occasionally, even for a cynic like me, they can be quite affecting.

One guy who was himself searching for people in the ruins came across a brown dog that seemed to be trying to get the old man's attention. The dog barked a bit and then went over to an rusty oil drum. Then it came back and forth between the man and the drum a few times, as if beckoning. When the old guy went towards the drum he noticed there was another dog - a white one - lying beside it, not moving, apparently dead. The brown dog stood over the white one as if protecting it and then, suddenly, the white dog moved. The old guy shouted "It's alive!" and they filmed it slowly getting to its feet.

There might be some video of it somewhere if anyone cares to look.
 

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