What Is An Animal's Life Worth?

In Plymouth England, two brigades of fire fighters were called to a roof of a sausage factory after a seagull was found trapped in some netting:

The RSPCA called Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service on Wednesday to free the bird. But when they discovered they could not reach it, they called for back-up. A second crew with a hydraulic aerial platform was then dispatched by fire service headquarters.
It travelled 12 miles from its base in Taunton to the sausage factory in Bridgwater. The estimated cost of the rescue operation was £800.
The fire service has defended its actions saying the operation was “good training”.

A measure of society's humanity is based on how we treat those that are most vulnerable--in this case, the most vulnerable is the noble seagull. What is the value of an animal's life? $5.00? $27.50? $600.00? In this case the value of an animal's life is a mere $2000.00. Or, in layman's terms, 270 value meals from McDonald's. In other words, it's a small price, and the good folks of Plymouth should be proud that their tax dollars went to helping that which needed help.

It nearly makes me feel guilty that I pay Mitchievillian children $1 for each dead seagull they kill and bring to the steps of the Mitchievillian Center for Diseased & Disgusting Vermin.

Nearly.