30 January 2014

Compassionate? Or Stupid?

VALDEZ - The couple arrested for walking through an avalanche blasting area were trying to get their cat to medical care in Valdez.

The Valdez Star reports Kristina Clark and Donney Carlson spent Saturday night in jail after walking more than a mile over two separate avalanches to get their 5-year-old cat named Ninja to a veterinarian. The cat had a urinary infection.

Avalanches and subsequent flooding Friday buried the only highway leading into Valdez, and the town remains cut off from the rest of the state.

Clark, from nearby Copper Center, knew the road to Valdez was closed, but the Valdez Veterinary Clinic told her they would try to help Ninja.

The two were released on bond Sunday while Dr. Kelly Hawkins treated their pet. Hawkins said the cat would not have lasted much longer.

Yes, they were trying to save their cat's life - but they were in an active blasting zone where DOT was attempting to clear the avalanche.

"Sentiment" has been defined as "swerving to miss a stray cat in the road."

"Sentimentality" has been defined as "swerving to miss a stray cat and plowing into pedestrians instead."

Let me say that I understand what they were doing, and why they tried. But I'd have maybe tried a little harder to find a plane or chopper to get me to town. Would it have helped the cat if they'd been killed in a dynamite blast?

Tough call? What do you say?

19 comments:

PioneerPreppy said...

OMG Harry moved to Alaska!!!!

OldAFSarge said...

I'll just say "I understand" and leave it at that.

Chickenmom said...

I think cabin fever clouded their judgement. Magnificent header, by the way...

ProudHillbilly said...

I understand. But I'd have called DOT first to see if they would hold off long enough to get through. Flight out didn't occur to me but that's because that's not so common down here - I might have thought of it there. If those avenues were closed then, yes, I'd have done the same.

Rev. Paul said...

From Armed Laughing:
A tough call.

I loved my animals. When they went away, it was similar to loss of a
close family member.
But (as Dave 'the genius' reminds us)

They ARE just animals.

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

LOL!

Rev. Paul said...

Understood, Sarge. :)

Rev. Paul said...

Agreed, Chickenmom. The header is Denali National Park, with the Alaska Range rising up there in the distance.

Rev. Paul said...

That's what I was thinking too, PH. Thanks.

Rev. Paul said...

Agreed, Guffaw - and thanks.

Matt said...

BAHAHAHAHAHA

Murphy's Law said...

Would I have done it for my dogs? Probably so. We'd deal with the consequences later. I can take a misdemeanor for my best pals if I have to. Although, seeing how cheesed off everyone got at these two, I might have tried a bit harder not to bee seen/caught.

Rev. Paul said...

Understood & agreed!

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

I would have done something to save my pet because our pets are like our kids however, I would not have jeopardized my life to do so.

Rev. Paul said...

Sandy, I believe that's the consensus here, as well. You're a smart lady. :)

Cathy said...

UTI's are no fun.
And unfortunately I understand how pets can make you go all fluffy.
A friend and I were talking recently . . our dogs become family. It's that way for so many people we know.
It's rough when they're suffering.


Rev. Paul said...

I know, Cathy, and it's a tough call. But they still went about it the wrong way. A simple call to the Troopers would have gone a LONG way toward getting them to the vet without walking through an active blasting zone.

threecollie said...

Guess I am a little too practical...nuff said

Rev. Paul said...

Yeah, me too.