What would you do?

There has been much written about the Daniel man Cody Roberts and his mistreatment and killing of a wolf earlier this month.

Reports state he ran the wolf over with his snowmobile, taped the mouth shut (later putting a muzzle and shock collar on it) and took it home and then to a bar in Daniel. Then, finally, hours later, with the wolf slowly dying from injuries sustained from being run over, he took the wolf out and killed it.

He was fined $250 for having a live wild animal. Because wolves are considered predators in much of Wyoming the killing of a wolf, humanely or inhumanely is legal.

We can debate the lack of a penalty, we can debate the actions of people from across the world who have made threats to Roberts, to the bar, to people with the same or similar name as Roberts (or the bar), and whether Roberts’ actions are supported by most or few Wyoming residents. (I hope and pray that the majority of Wyoming residents do not support his actions.)

Today I want to look at those who were in the bar the night he brought the injured and dying wolf. People who were uncomfortable left. Others stayed. Some took videos which have since gone viral. No one stood up and said it was not right.

One story from an anonymous eyewitness said people were afraid because the majority of the bar’s patrons were friends and family of Roberts.

I thought of this incident when I was watching the show “What Would You Do?” over the weekend. The show has actors play out a scenario and see how people in the vicinity will react. One situation in a recent episode was a “music producer” trying to finalize a deal with a client by inviting her to his home. Some intervened and spoke to the girl, advising her not to go. One woman was even willing to help the girl leave while the “producer” was in the restroom.

In each scenario I often ask myself what would I do? Would I speak up? Would I try to help? The answer is “I don’t know.” I can say that I hope that I would intervene and try to help, but until I am actually in that situation I do not know for sure.

I think about how if I had been in that bar, would I have asked Roberts to put the wolf down so he did not needlessly suffer? Would I have called authorities, because he was breaking a law at the point?

Ever since 9/11 we hear the mantra “See Something, Say Something” but how many of us are willing to do that when the situation is unfolding right in front of us?

We can use the Roberts situation to try and solicit changes in statute, but we can also use this as our own lesson and ask ourselves “What Would We Do?”

I hope our answer will be “we can do better.”