Value of life

[asterroc]

The ongoing saga to rescue Molly the cat intrigues me in how much effort people are willing to go to. The cat is trapped (?) in the walls of a historic building, and either refuses to or is unable to come out. They've tried luring her with fresh fish, catnip, and whale songs, and now they're chopping out bricks from the wall despite the building's protected status.

The edifice is part of a historic district where alterations are banned without permission - but officials told rescuers they should "do whatever is necessary to recover the cat".

So should they destroy the whole building just to save a measly mouser? What if it was someone's dog? What if it were only a pet rat? What if it were a child? What if it were a child molester?