I am not an internet commando nor a mall ninja. For whatever it adds to the debate, I spent 24 years as a police officer, and I know first hand that there are moments in life where you get off the X, regardless of the odds. Yes, the 5 animals involved in this sorry incident are completely to blame, and I acknowledge that the father was not left with any good choices. We will never know what might have happened had dad chosen to stay and fight, so your supposition that it would have made matters worse is no more valid than my supposition that standing and fighting for someone you love would have been better.
I am guided by my code of living, and I would have fought. I am not impressed with internet cowards who can find reasons to justify inaction or cowardice.
You walk around armed and are well trained to take on thugs. The father of this girl was unarmed and presumably had no such training.
If I was armed, I would fight. If I was unarmed I would want to stay and fight, but the logical thing to do, if I wanted to maximize my daughter’s chances, would be to go and get help when given the opportunity. It is a form of cowardice to put how you will feel about yourself or what others will think of you over your child’s safety.
If people want to say they would do differently, fine. But those calling the father cowardly for doing the smart thing instead of the “badass” thing are out of line.