They are officers though. That's the part you're not getting.

 

I'm well aware that they are. That doesn't mean they should be treated the same as a human officer.

They are officers though. That's the part you're not getting.

 

They are NOT officers, in any way.

They aren't objects at all.

 

They also are not humans, and shouldn't be held on the same pedestal as a human life.

 

Exactly.

Correct. Of course if we're comparing them to humans, we as people could sure learn a lot about love, loyalty, and trust from them.

 

Scenario: Cops roll up on a house suspected of being ran as a drug ring. They fear those inside are armed. Are you okay with them sending in the K-9's first to take the gunfire and distract the perps over going in themselves?

 

Yes.

They aren't objects at all.

 

They also are not humans, and shouldn't be held on the same pedestal as a human life.

 

Maybe so, but rightly or wrongly, I value my dog's life much higher than I do that of a random stranger's.

I started this thread after seeing an article about a guy getting sentenced to 45 years in prison for shooting a police dog.

 

Seemed a bit excessive.

Maybe so, but rightly or wrongly, I value my dog's life much higher than I do that of a random stranger's.

 

I get the mentality, but no animal life is more valuable than a human life. JMO.

I started this thread after seeing an article about a guy getting sentenced to 45 years in prison for shooting a police dog.

 

Seemed a bit excessive.

 

That level of absurdity is hard for me to even comprehend.

I get the mentality, but no animal life is more valuable than a human life. JMO.

 

I would agree with that.

Maybe so, but rightly or wrongly, I value my dog's life much higher than I do that of a random stranger's.

 

I'm all for you loving your dog, but no animal life is more valuable than a human life IMO.

Maybe so, but rightly or wrongly, I value my dog's life much higher than I do that of a random stranger's.

 

Let's change that up a bit.

 

You're an officer.

You are also the K-9 officer.

Your real-life partner is shot and is still in harm's way. Your dog was also shot and is also in harm's way. You can only save one. Can we assume you'd save the human first?

Let's train a dog to fly a plane and make it a pilot then. I'm sorry but dogs don't hold jobs. Dogs are a tool that can be utilized by people who do hold jobs. They are a resource.

 

In my experience there are a number of people who fit that same description.

Let's chance that up a bit.

 

You're an officer.

You are also the K-9 officer.

Your real-life partner is shot and is still in harm's way. Your dog was also shot and is also in harm's way. You can only save one. Can we assume you'd save the human first?

 

Yes. That's not a stranger though.

No. Dogs are not human, and although they are incredibly intelligent animals that are capable of a large range of thoughts and emotions, that does not equal a human life.

 

The question is not are they human. It's if they are a police officer. That depends on what definition you use. From Webster:

 

Simple Definition of police officer

: a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests : a member of the police

 

Full Definition of police officer

: a member of a police force

 

By the simple definition I would say most would agree that they aren't. However, using the full definition I would argue they absolutely are...

You know what else they aren't? Human

 

You know what humans aren't? Special. Same decaying matter as everything else on this godforsaken planet.