I had to watch my uncle actually live that question.

He had a beautiful Lab that he had titled in the field and he adored that dog. She was his constant companion and hunting buddy.

We were out for a walk with her when she spotted some ducks out on a frozen lake and she bolted after them which was totally out of charactar for her. She went through the ice and than under the ice. He ran to the house and grabbed a hatchet and starting chopping away at the ice but he couldn't find his dog. The ice starting giving away under him but he wasn't giving it up. My aunt was screaming at him and finally he turned around and saw his kids watching him and he backed off the lake.

It was the saddest most horrifying thing I've had to witness but that day he chose his life and his wife and kids over a beloved dog.

It's a very hard question to answer and one decision I hope I never have to make. Of course than I look at my dogs and say "IN A HEARTBEAT!" Not sure my husband could handle all 4 of them without me though.