There is a basic truth. Dogs are pack animals; they are very loyal to the pack, and will go to great lengths to fit into the pack, and will sacrifice to defend the pack. Absent a natural pack, they typically transfer their pack instincts to humans. So, they make excellent pets, and police/military dogs.

Cats are not pack animals. Their nature is obviously different. But, they also learn to accommodate to circumstances. They are amazingly resilient, as anyone who keeps a barn can testify.

I am on record. I love dogs. Grew up with dogs, no cats. But, I learned decades ago that cats fit the needs of a military family particularly well, although many have dogs, as did we. But, once you reach a level of maturity that allows you to accept cats in your life, you become a more tolerant person. Chew on that.

yeah? really? if you think so…

Hachik? was born on November 10, 1923 at a farm near the city of ?date, Akita Prefecture. In 1924, Hidesabur? Ueno, a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University, brought him to live in Shibuya, Tokyo as his pet. Hachik? would meet Ueno at Shibuya Station every day after his commute home. This continued until May 21, 1925, when Ueno died of a cerebral hemorrhage while at work. From then until his death on March 8, 1935, Hachik? would return to Shibuya Station every day to await Ueno’s return. During his lifetime, the dog was held up in Japanese culture as an example of loyalty and fidelity. Well after his death, he continues to be remembered in worldwide popular culture, with statues, movies, books, and appearances in various media. Hachik? is known in Japanese as ch?ken Hachik? (?????) “faithful dog Hachik?”, hachi meaning “eight” and the suffix -k? indicating affection.

Eight-month-old Vivianna was trapped inside her Baltimore home when a fire suddenly broke out around 10 p.m. on Aug. 14, according to WBAL TV online. The child’s mother, Erika Poremski, claims she had just stepped outside when she noticed her house had caught on fire with both her daughter and six-year-old fur baby, Polo, inside. “I tried to keep getting in,” Poremski told CBS News on Friday. “She was up the stairs, but the fire smoke was so heavy I couldn’t get past it. I kept running back out and back in, trying to get up there. Then, the door curling started falling and I couldn’t get back in.”

Poremski suffered burns to her face and hands.

“I tried really hard, everyone in the neighborhood tried. They were kicking the doors in and kicking the windows out. I couldn’t (get her out). Nobody could.”

despite the dangerous conditions, Vivianna was kept relatively safe by Polo, as he used his body to shield the infant from the flames. In turn, she only suffered from burns on her arm and side. The dog, unfortunately, wasn’t so lucky and died as a result of the blaze.

The dog laid on the baby and took the fire and didn’t leave burning to death slowly…

what was that you said about dogs?

Like the pit bull that smelled gas, escaped, brought police back like lassie, and saved the building (and potentially the owner when they arrived home)…

or this one in ny.. [if you want the link search the title]

Pit bull puppy saves family from fire, carries baby by diaper -NY
Hero Dog Saves 14-Month-Old Toddler From Drowning In Marcellus
Dog saves baby deer from drowning in waters off Long Island
Heroic Dog Saves Baby From Drowning In Pool
A dog saved a baby’s life by dragging her out of her burning house
Hero Pit Bull Saves Family from Building Fire and Pulls Baby to Safety Using the Child’s Diaper -California
Tennessee Dog Saves 18-Month-Old Boy from Venomous Snake – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IurT4abt-9A
Rescue dog saves little girl from dangerous snake – Florida
Adopted Dog Helps Toddler Get Home After 9 Hours Lost In The Woods
Deaf dog praised after staying with girl lost in Australian bush
Pit bull rewarded after saving teen from rape in Brooklyn

5-Pound Dog Dies Protecting Human Family From Bear
Bear enters house, dog dies saving family
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/p/bear-enters-house-dog-dies-saving-family/vp-BBQdVWV

Dogs are other-directed and compliant, not superior.

A dear friend of the family had a cat who was mad for sauteed mushrooms. He’d stand on his hind legs to get a mushroom. She didn’t train him to do that.

You cannot train a cat. You can, however, persuade them to trust you. Sometimes that takes years.

We’re getting off lightly.