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Hey everyone, Ralph here and I need your help.
I saw this question on Facebook in a discussion
on morality.
I wanted to see how dog parents would answer it.
You’re driving down a crowded street. There are cars in
front of you and cars behind you. There are pedestrians on
the sidewalk.
Suddenly, traffic speeds up. Off to the side, out of the corner
of your eye, a dog pulls from their dog parent.
The dog charges out right in front of you.
If you stop, cars are going to hit you from the rear and someone can get seriously injured.
If you swerve to the left or right, a pedestrian can get injured.
But if you keep going, the dog is going to be killed.
What do you do?
There are no right or wrong answers. Just want to know what you would do.
Please answer the question below.
SD
Mar 24, 2013 at 10:52 am
I wouldn’t give it a second thought I would brake for the dog. Nothing in the world short of hurting one of my children would stop me from hitting that dog. I have dogs and cats and they are part of our family like our children and I would brake for them and hopefully so would others.
Lynn
Feb 15, 2013 at 11:45 am
Would slam on the brakes!!!!
desert
Jan 29, 2013 at 10:28 am
No question…..SAVE THE DOG!
Lonesome Doug
Sep 10, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Stop, swerve, avoid at all costs. Personally, I cannot accept the arrogant notion that human life is somehow more precious than that of other animals.
Darlene
Aug 23, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I break for animals. If the person behind me is following at the proper distance, then there shouldn’t be a problem. If the car behind me rearends me, he is at fault.
Sandra Jossa
Jul 28, 2012 at 11:40 pm
No doubt in my mind! I would stop and take the chance of getting hit in the rear. I could never just run over a dog.
Michelle
Jul 25, 2012 at 8:50 pm
No hesitation I WILL STOP! and turn my 4 ways on! as I am doing so!!!! Make the jerk riding my ass pay…
Teresa
Jul 25, 2012 at 1:24 am
Slam on the brakes & save the dog…tailgaters will pay!!
Lisa
Jul 25, 2012 at 12:41 am
This is easy. Brake for the dog. If I get hit then it’s a rear ender and they are worth big bucks. Then I’ll retire with my whopping social security check.
Karin Greening
Jul 24, 2012 at 3:28 pm
A natural instinct for me – SLAM ON THE BRAKES!
sherrill benson
Jul 23, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I would brake,cars should not be following that close.In fact I would brake for any animal,I have many times for rabbits.I am not going to hit any animal.
Jeanne
Jul 23, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Slam on the brakes and take my chances.
MeryeBeth Albert
Jul 23, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Pedestrians need to watch out for themselves! I would, without conscious thought, immediately slam on my brakes and try to retrieve the dog; consequenses be damned.
D. Irene Ramirez
Jul 23, 2012 at 8:36 pm
I too would brake and pray not to hit the dog.
Katrina
Jul 23, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Slam on the breaks for sure!!! and save the dog …..
paula
Jul 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm
hit the brakes…i could not hit the dog …
Edith
Jul 23, 2012 at 5:04 pm
As someone who nearly went off the road trying to avoid a cat, I’d probably hit the brake without even thinking.
shauney kelsey
Jul 23, 2012 at 4:53 pm
I already have the guy behind me has to have his car under control at all times they would do the same for a child why not a dog or cat? I’ve stopped traffic for wild life, a lady who’s dogs got away from her, stray dogs, even a flock of baby turkeys. Not stopping would make me the same as an abuser.
Alice
Jul 23, 2012 at 4:44 pm
My instinct is to hit the brakes, which I know isn’t what expertd tell you to do. But I have a hard time watching anything die, and my common sense flies out the window. And yeah, the guy behind shouldn’t be following me that closely. We hit a cat one time that had babies following her – I will never forget the sound of her crying as we hit her, or the thump under the tires. And we left the babies without their mama – it still breaks my heart. Good reason to always be watching for whatever may be coming at you while your driving!
Deb St. Amour
Jul 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Without a doubt, slam on the brakes.
Cathy S.
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Wouldn’t even have to think twice. Would rescue the dog, and if it causes a traffic jam or pisses people off, too bad.
Andy
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm
I would slam on the brakes without even thinking about it.
susan Watts
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm
I would slam on the brakes and pray. I could no more hit a dog than a person. It’s an awful choice.
Reney
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Take my chances and slam on brakes, the people behind me should always be prepared for the unexpected any way. You can repair a car but you can not repair a life that you may have taken from a family that loved their pet.
Deb Carpenter
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I would brake. I would brake if it was a person, so too for an animal. Assured clear distance and insurance are all going to be a second thought. I simply would brake. This being is a life, a soul, an essence.
Patricia Shank
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Instincts, I would slam on the brakes, natural responce!
Patricia
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:18 pm
absolutely, slam on the brakes…if I get hit oh well, that’s what insurance is for…
tina
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Slam on my brakes. Better a few humans tough out a whiplash than kill or mame a dog. I’be been rear ended and struck as a pedestrian, and trust me when I say that a little whiplash, even a bad one, isn’t nearly as bad a heavy machine tossing you like a salad.
aimee
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:04 pm
yes, i would stop to save the dog!! i stopped traffic in the middle of town to save a kitten that fell from a car. i would do the same for a dog.
Gail
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I DO brake for dogs! People shouldn’t tailgate!
Nancy Ellis
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I would slam on the brakes. My body would react, before my mind knew what was happening.
Jimbo Paleo
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:58 pm
This is a hard one. I love dogs. I love people. I dont’want to hurt a dog. I want even less to hurt a person.
I reluctantly choose to be safer for the people than the dogs.
Please don’t hate me…
==>Jim
Lorilynne
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I would slam on my brakes for sure. Let the other cars hit me.
Sherri
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Without a doubt – SLAM on the brakes!! People behind me should be paying attention and if I get hit – that’s what insurance is for! Besides I’d rather have to repair my car than take a life!! Besides unless you are going highway speeds and you’re on a busy surface street in all likelihood you aren’t going that fast and with today’s cars – you’ll get a few bumps, bruises and maybe a cut most likely from the darn airbag!! No – SLAM the brakes – I can take the bruises – I can’t handle taking a life from a fur-friend!
Elda
Jul 23, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I agree you should being going at a speed suitable to where you are. I would brake to try to save the dog also, even if I got hit. Would brake my heart to hurt or kill the dog. Any animal or person for that matter.
Pat O'Hanlon
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I would slam on the brakes and/or swerve. Not a matter of thought or choice, I would just do it.
DJ
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Slam on the brakes. So what if I get rear ended?
Lori Boos
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:39 pm
There would be no hesitation. I try to be aware of what is taking place on either side of me as well, so I would slam on the brakes and swerve in one direction or the other if it was feasable.
Danielle Ziegler Almes
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I would slam on the brakes-just natural response and help the dog and others-thats just how I am & was raised!
Jennifer Wachter
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:26 pm
I would apply the brakes. The same principle would apply if the dog was a child or pedestrian. The cars behind you should always be alert to braking vehicles in front of them. Hopefully, they leave enough space between them and the car ahead of them…if not, their insurance will have to pay.
kaye
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:25 pm
I was on a very busy 6 land a few years ago … traffic was actually stopped. For what? a duck and her ducklings were making their way across. I actually cried … was so thankful for the kindness of every driver ….
Gina Pelletier
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I would break and take that chance..like another person said that’s what insurance is for. Definitely break and pray for the best!
delinda martin
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:20 pm
no questions slamm on brakes as hard as possible meanwhile i would pray PLEASE GOD DON”T LET ME HIT IT….if i get rear ended the car behind should not be following so close they are suppose to leave enough space between cars to stop,,,,,,no one does…. if i get hurt…my thoughts are better me then the dog….:)
lisa denton
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Slam on the brakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patricia Teel
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Stop of course.
Peg Demaine
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:20 pm
I am a professional driver, as well as a dog trainer, so I’ve learned a few tricks to safe driving. First of all, when traffic speeds up, I travel at a slower pace to give myself room to maneuver.
While this frustrates drivers behind me, it allows me time and space to slow down, thus saving the dog.
janet boscaino
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Definitely stop the car and try to get dog to safe place check to see if it has tags to bring him home
Michelle
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:19 pm
I agree with everyone else; slam on the brakes, that’s why I have insurance, shouldn’t be following so close/driving so fast with that much traffic (pedestrian and vehicle) around anyway.
Thomas Butler
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:19 pm
I am going to stop and save the dog. If my car get hit I can always get it fixed.
Charlie
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Brake job…save the dog
Anna
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Absolutely slam on the brakes for any animal!
Chenoa Miller
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I would slam on the brakes without a second thought. The drivers behind me should be paying attention and see my brake lights come on. If they hit me it is their fault.
eugene
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:16 pm
That’s what insurance is for. Let them hit me, besides if they do they were probably too damn close!
Roseann Robinson
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:14 pm
I would do exactly the same thing as Linda above said. I’ve had it happen before and your (my) natural reaction is to hit the brakes. Unfortunately when the person rear-ended me, I would probably suffer some type of injury too. But I could not deliberately “run down” a dog or anything else.
Cathy Cartwright
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:13 pm
I would hit the breaks & take the chance of getting hit. No doubt in my mind.
Linda McGrath-Cruz
Jul 23, 2012 at 2:00 pm
I would slam on the breaks without a second thought to another potential problems. It would be an automatic response for me.