LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- A small family dog is being credited with a huge heroic act -- saving a Lakewood family from fire.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/4584615/detail.html?subid=22100484&qs=1;bp=t

I wonder if the doggy is sad that he couldn't save his friends. :-/

Yes, I believe the dog will grieve for the other animals. I've read lots of stories of dogs going through the same grief process that humans do when they lose those close to them, whether human or non-human.

I also remember seeing something on TV about the dogs used in Oklahoma City to search for survivors of the federal building bombing. One of the men on the search-and-rescue team stated that after a period of time, all the dogs found were dead bodies rather than living survivors, and the dogs' behavior changed. They seemed a lot sadder, traumatized by the carnage. They had to be given breaks from their searching. Yes, dogs DO have souls, apparently...

...another dog and cat did not make it out alive.

"Clearly, had that not happened -- I don't want to speculate on the exact time, but within a short span of time -- there could have a been a loss of life in this incident," said Gary Armstrong of the West Metro Fire Department.

So, the deaths of the other two animals don't qualify as a loss of life then...That seems like an odd thing to say, even for an omni.

"I'm really pretty blessed," said Dave Thorn. "My family is OK and that's what matters to me. All the material things (are) irrelevant."


Le sigh.

I also remember seeing something on TV about the dogs used in Oklahoma City to search for survivors of the federal building bombing. One of the men on the search-and-rescue team stated that after a period of time, all the dogs found were dead bodies rather than living survivors, and the dogs' behavior changed. They seemed a lot sadder, traumatized by the carnage. They had to be given breaks from their searching.
I've read that sometimes S&R teams will hide one of their own people in the rubble so that the dog can "find" a living person; I guess it helps them feel better and not so depressed. Sweet.

So, the deaths of the other two animals don't qualify as a loss of life then...That seems like an odd thing to say, even for an omni.

Not really. The majority of people put human life above animal life. The fact that no humans died makes this a happy situation for these people.

"I'm really pretty blessed," said Dave Thorn. "My family is OK and that's what matters to me. All the material things (are) irrelevant."

so his pets arnt his family. its sad how people think of animals.

So, the deaths of the other two animals don't qualify as a loss of life then...That seems like an odd thing to say, even for an omni.

I agree. The comment doesn't imply that human death is a greater loss of life than non-human death but that non-human death is not a loss of life at all.

yeah they dont mention anything about them feeling bad for the cat/dog too. but im sure they are. i know for a fact i would be heartbroken if my pets died, i wouldnt be still thinking about what if "I" died, but if my pets DID die, that would suck