Should L.A. firefighters have risked their lives to save a dog? Tell us what you think [Updated]

The rescue of a dog by an army of firefighters and swift-rescue personnel has been the talk of Los Angeles. It was broadcast live on local TV and has sparked much debate.

Should fire personnel have risked their lives to save the dog?

LAFD Capt. Steve Ruda said the firefighter, Joe St. Georges, who rescued the dog has significant bite injuries to his right hand and forearm, and is being treated in the emergency room at L.A. County-USC Medical Center.

“They are waiting for a hand specialist to come in because of the significance of the injuries,” Ruda said. The dog will be tested for rabies, and is being cared for at the county's Animal Care shelter in Downey, he said.

[Updated at 6 p.m.: St. Georges, wearing a bandage on his hand, was released from the hospital and spoke to the media.

"The dog was trying to get out of the channel, and that was not going to happen," he said, explaining why officials decided to act.

He said the dog "started snapping at me" when he tried to put a capture restraint on the canine. He said he got one bite to the thumb.

St. Georges was asked why he decided to risk his life. He said officials worried that someone without training would attempt to rescue the dog because the scene was being broadcast on TV.]

Share your views below.

--Seema Mehta and Shelby Grad

Comments

[rose]

this is practice for the rescue workers...they need to be up-to-date in their skills...this was a successful mission...good job la firefighters!

[J. Ritts]

If Mr. St. Georges wanted to risk his life in rescuing a dog, that's his prerogative. With the budget shortfalls Los Angeles is facing, tax dollars should not be spent rescuing mongrels.

[DP]

Sure! It was great practice in the event it had been a person trapped in the river.

[Vic]

Heck yeah!

[alan]

what if the firefighter had died, or the helicopter had crashed or the firefighter loses his hand?

For a dog...really?

What if the firefighter has kids, dies and orphans them. For a dog...really?

[Kris]

Absolutely this Dog should have been rescued. This is a life, and he deserves to live just as much as anyone else. What if this was your dog? Im sure you would be all for it. The water was 2 feet deep and the firefighter was tied to a helicopter. They are professionals and they practice hundreds of hours per year. There was little risk involved and Im sure they weighed the risk before the rescue was performed. Bravo..Congrats to the LAFD!!

[maria]

HI and one more thing wile this beautiful dog was strugling to live everyone else was just standing there looking did nothing . so i guy from the lelicopter did somthing very good. life is a risk you take risks to help others even animals help each other to me thats real and beautiful maria

[Harv J]

(Robert C. You pays taxs because you have to. taxs are not an option.) L.A. decisions on how to spend money is famous for being stupid. Bleeding heart animal lovers should get a life and face reality.

[Barbara]

Yes, it was the right thing to do. With the tragedy in Haiti, the economy, crazy politics...everything is out of our control...this was something that could be done to save an innocent creature. It was something nice, in a very bleak month.

[Another waste of Government Resources.]

In a country where the poorest eat "too much" and have to lose weight to be healthy, it is another example of us using our excess resources, not for the greater good of humanity, but for entertainment (does it not warm our hearts to see a beautiful dog rescued). We have lost sense of value in this country. We want the government to do just about everything for us. We just saved a dog for thousands of dollars.

God bless America. Land of too much.

[firefighterlover]

to Jesse | January 22, 2010 at 04:23 PM :)
Please don't worry, as regularly happens in these situations: as soon as the rescued animal is shown after the rescue, the phone calls come pouring in to adopt! People everywhere let this be a lesson to you for microchipping your dogs and cats.

[JK]

A couple of questions to those who answer yes:

1. Should the owner of the dog be billed for the rescue?

2. If something REALLY terrible had happened - the rescuer was lost or the chopper went down - would your answer be the same?

Finally, what do you think the fireman's family was thinking when they saw their father/husband risking his life for a dog?

[Dan Lemieux]

I think it was fantastic....The motto of Rescue Swimmers is "So Others May Live" The entire crew that rescued that dog, realize that it doesn't just mean humans. If I knew who those folks are...I'd buy them more than one round of drinks.

[Jen]

Yes. Only real heroes would save an animal. LAFD are heroes!

[Animal loving Brit.]

Wen, you said, "Only in America people show such care for their pets". As a British person I find that ignorant and insulting! Do you think in the UK people would have let this dog die?

[alan]

Dr. Doolittle,

I know that dog. He is a mean and vicious. He stole my pet's food just a few nights ago. He goes around menacing the neighborhood cats. He barks loudly as people walk past him.

I am not so sure that dog is on a higher level than most people. Not that dog specifically. Maybe some others.

That is one angry dog.

[rayna elijah]

yes they should have rescued the dog, but why did they have to cover it on live television? didn't want to watch that on my only afternoon off!

[bigdog]

who needs tv when one can be entertained by the morons that think using taxpayers money to rescue a dog is a good thing. if no owner shows up, the dog will be put down, but i'm sure someone from peta will be there to find it a home. how precious. lets talk about the fireman that was seriously hurt saving the dog. worth it?? i think not. i think i will copy some of these comments so i can have a good laugh next time i need one. oh yeah, i bet all you guys have "meat is murder" on the back of your car.

[Xylo]

Seriously, since when did a bite in the thumb become life-threatening? By some stupid procedure, you decide to put on a restraint on a dog that is struggling for its life, and what do you expect?

And, on the bigger question of having to save a dog, ask yourself if you think it would be okay if dogs decided to stop helping humans.

[Jean]

As a dog lover ---YES. As a human being ---YES!!! it appears most of you did not read the article completely! Here's the last sentence of the article: "St. Georges was asked why he decided to risk his life. He said officials worried that someone without training would attempt to rescue the dog because the scene was being broadcast on TV."
Now think for a second... if the fire dept had done nothing for the dog - - - how many dog/animal lovers would they then have to go save after they without swift water rescue training tried to do it on their own? 5? 10? 15? more?

[stilldezzin]

ABSOLUTELY members of other species are equal in value to human beings and should be given the same consideration in terms of lifesaving or anything else.

[Chris]

I'm a total dog lover, and could not have stood idly by and watched the dog die. While I'm glad they rescued the dog....it will be total irony if the dog is euthanized at the shelter in a few days.

I hope that someone adopts him/her from the shelter. Then the dog will have a real shot at life.

My thanks to the LA firefighters and rescue personnel for the bravery and work involved.

[Chris]

I'm a total dog lover, and could not have stood idly by and watched the dog die. While I'm glad they rescued the dog....it will be total irony if the dog is euthanized at the shelter in a few days.

I hope that someone adopts him/her from the shelter. Then the dog will have a real shot at life.

My thanks to the LA firefighters and rescue personnel for the bravery and work involved.

[Big Ed]

National Parks, Fire and Police Departments, the best (and most worthwhile)of the government.

[Dean]

No. Complete waste of money. Dogs are disposable. Humans are not. It made no fiscal sense in this day of age. A risky PR stunt by emergency personnel to make up for failings in other areas (See LA Times reports on Station Fire debacle)