Anyone else just see that amazing water rescue of a dog by the LAFD?

[memyselfI]

He was trapped in a river and they saved him.

It was awesome to watch. I'm sure they will catch a lot of flack about it from non-animal lovers but it was a sight to see.

[kchero]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

But it's also invaluable training for them. You can simulate an unwilling victim or a victim who is scared or doesn't understand but to actually have one to learn from is good experience. And they will get hours and hours of good press which will help them raise money if they decide to try to offset the cost.

Excellent point.

[CoMoChief]

No one would give a shit if that was a cat. Myself included.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

No one would give a shit if that was a cat. Myself included.

Me thinks a cat would be smart enough to be nowhere near a river in a flood.

[CaliforniaChief]

FYI, the dog bit the firefighter's hand. I just saw the presser with the firefighter, who had just been released from the hospital. He had an enormous cast on his hand and thumb.

They deployed a helicopter, 50 firefighters, and numerous other vehicles for an hour. That's a lot of cash and pain to swoop up a dog, IMHO.

The training argument doesn't hold water with me. However, a little more plausible explanation, given by the firefighters, was that they wanted to rescue the dog before an untrained human would go down there and try to do it.

[pr_capone]

Poor dog.

It went from HOLY SHIT I'M GONNA DROWN to HOLY SHIT I'M FLYING and dog paddling the whole way.

Glad the dog is safe.

Really though, how much in taxpayer money did that cost? The fuel for the whirlybird is about it. They were gonna pay the firefighter his salary regardless of the rescue or not, they were already paying for the heli so its not like they went out and purchased it just for this rescue.

I'm ignorant when it comes to cost of aircraft fuel but if they used $500 bucks of fuel for the rescue... it was money well spent. Just because it is a dog does not make it less alive or less afraid of drowning.

[Abba-Dabba]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

The training argument doesn't hold water with me. However, a little more plausible explanation, given by the firefighters, was that they wanted to rescue the dog before an untrained human would go down there and try to do it.

It may not hold water for you. But it sure will to someone who may be trapped in river someday.

[Buck]

4:1 - Nobody will claim ownership and the dog will be put down in 2 months.

On that note, I wonder what Donger's thoughts on this are.

[memyselfI]

I don't know. I think you would be hard pressed to find fault with the LAFD for this rescue. It happened to be caught on tape live but a dog was rescued out of an icy pond by firefighters in IA and a liter of puppies and Mom were rescued out of a storm drain by firefighters in OK...

just in the past two days.

[Rain Man]

I'm almost positive that that was Santa's Little Helper.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I like dogs as much as anyone, but that's a shit ton of taxpayer money spent right there.

Training opportunity, the only reason they got involved. Perfect situation to train for a human rescue.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

FYI, the dog bit the firefighter's hand. I just saw the presser with the firefighter, who had just been released from the hospital. He had an enormous cast on his hand and thumb.

They deployed a helicopter, 50 firefighters, and numerous other vehicles for an hour. That's a lot of cash and pain to swoop up a dog, IMHO.

The training argument doesn't hold water with me. However, a little more plausible explanation, given by the firefighters, was that they wanted to rescue the dog before an untrained human would go down there and try to do it.

Think of it like this, they do it all the time in mock scenarios where no one but a firefighter/actor gets rescued.....Swift Water Rescue got some free training in a live situation instead of a mock one

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Think of it like this, they do it all the time in mock scenarios where no one but a firefighter/actor gets rescued.....Swift Water Rescue got some free training in a live situation instead of a mock one

With the exception of the biting. People will typically not bite when being saved.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

With the exception of the biting. People will typically not bite when being saved.

Actually I routinely gnaw on the arms of my rescuers

[Groves]

Can't they just kung-fu the dog's head and carry it to safety without it getting all chow-town on em? Works in the movies, yes?

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I like dogs as much as anyone, but that's a shit ton of taxpayer money spent right there.

You said it!