In a Worst Case Scenario of this Sort, (Perhaps it can Indeed be Called a "Shackleton Scenario") It Comes Down to a Choice between a Valued, Beloved Relationship, and Dying over It, and Allowing yourself to Live, but at the Sacrifice of your Loved One of that Relationship!

Many People are Noble Enuff to Choose the First / Former, over the Second One / Latter.

Many are Not like Bountyhunter's Russian Groom! Some X number of People though are! (See his Post earlier in this Thread)

Just as Many a One may Not Leave their Human Loved One in such Situations!, Even at the Endangerment and Expense of their Own Lives!, -Some may Honestly Feel Such toward their Pet! / Another Animal !

I would Urge People to Put their Own Human Life First!, in such Situations, Ahead of the Animal's Life and Well Being. To the Extent that the Animal Cannot be Helped in any Way, within the Situation. Much as I too may Love my Animal! Even my Beloved Dog of my Teenage Days, -"King"! King for One would Want me to!

So if One Really and Sufficiently Feels such "Family and Such Love"!, Toward their Animal, to Sacrifice even Themself!, Then I Do Understand their Decision.

While still Preferring that Person to Put Themself / Other Humans, Ahead of that Animal in such Situations. Where All Possible and Where Need Be.

While in Many Respects Animals are Not Less than People, in Other Ways, We Are just Something Greater and More!

Do we Really Love and Value an Animal Life Form that is Somewhere Between Protozoa and Insect, -as Much as or More than our Cats or Dogs?! Of course we Simply and Typically Do Not!

Much as we Love and Value our Animals!, We Shud still Place the Greater Emphasis, Accent, and Focus, -on Saving our Own, and Other Fellow Human, Lives! In Any such Tuff and No Other Choice!, and Worst Comes to Worst!, of Situations. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]frenchy[/email]