Cloning Pets

[NicoleLJ]

I was watching Anderson the other day and he had a lady on that had had her dog cloned. I was wondering what people thought about that. Might make an interesting discussion.

If I remember correctly she said 7 embros were made and implanted. 2 surived. Of the two that were born one had some physical issues, one being a cleft palette. And the other one was sent to her. The puppy is under a year and she is getting another clone of the same dog in a month. So she will have two clones of a dog that passed on. Cost. $50, 000 each.

Personally I can't see myself ever doing this. One cloning is not a sure thing. From what I have read life spans are shorter, coat colors can be different, deformaties can occur and so on. Plus you can't clone a personality. So I could get a dog that looks like Sheena but personality wise is not Sheena. If you get what I mean. Plus there are so many things I could do with that money. I could get a very well bred dog from a breeder and donate the rest to animal rescue and so on. I just can't ever see myself doing it.

For others I can't say. Their money, their choice. But for me nope. What are your thoughts?

 

[release the hounds]

things are meant to change and evolve, including and especially the genetic make up of a species. Clone it for science to learn, but on a commercial scale? I think it's selfish and shortsighted.

 

[katielou]

Not interested at all.
I love my dogs for their individuality
I go into dog ownership knowing i get to live with and love that individuality for a short amount of time and then a new individual will come into my life to be loved.

 

[Locke]

There is a show on TLC tonight called I Cloned My Pet or something.

I feel really sorry for both the cloned pet and the owner. They are really setting themselves up for disappointment. Think of all the dogs/cats/pets they could help with $50,000!!
I would do anything to have my Mitch back, but a clone is NOT him and never will be.

 

[NicoleLJ]

They mentioned that show on TLC on the Anderson one. The lady that is on the I Cloned My Pet that had the wall mural and also the quilt of her dogs face is the lady that was on Andersons show.

 

[Dekka]

Not interested. Personalities should be very similar as would structure. They do end up slightly larger (no idea why) and likley have different coat patterns.

They live shorter in theory because they are born with telomeres (the little protector caps on your chromosomes) that are as old as the donor's were.

Also with dogs and cats you get a whole litter of clones born. How creepy is that? And what if you only order one... what happens to the rest?

ETA I do think there are valid reasons for cloning an animal, but not to bring back the dead for misguided sentimental reasons.

 

[SarahHound]

If I could get the exact same dog, personality and all, I'd clone Maddy. I still have her coat full of hairs. I haven't got round to washing it yet.

It makes no sense really, as I'd never clone her. No dog will be the same. It's the abuse she suffered in her first years that made her the amazing dog she was. It made the amazing bond we had. Without it, who knows what she might have been like.

 

[Saeleofu]

It's not the same dog. Period. No way would I ever do that.

 

[houlahoops]

I agree that you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. Every deviation from the dog you remember would be heartbreaking: every little expression that was just a tiny bit off.

Better to get a whole new dog and open up a whole new relationship than try to recreate something that is already gone....

 

[Southpaw]

Personalities should be very similar as would structure.

I always assumed that the personality would be different?

Aside from all the other "weird" things I feel about cloning, that one has always stuck out in my mind--if you really want your pet cloned, what is the point if they have a completely different personality.

Anyway, it's not something I'd ever be interested in. The first thing that made me interested in Juno was that she DOESN'T look anything like Molly. Having a clone doesn't make it the same dog... I'll save the money and find another dog out there that will suit my life equally as well.

 

[Shai]

Well...someone else posted this on FB, and my take, for me personally...

If the dog was the same, sans say slight variations in markings...but otherwise exactly the same physically and mentally...

There is part of me that would really want to clone Kim. Not because I expect the puppy to be another Kim...the new dog would be a new individual and in that sense different markings would be lovely to keep that firmly in my mind...but because I would love, absolutely love to know what Kim could be like given a different start to life...one that did not involve roaming the countryside for weeks and having her littermates picked off around her, then put into foster care then into the hands of a rookie owner with no real goals or dog experience. Because she has turned out, despite that, to be utterly amazing and I just can't help but wonder what the same set of genetics would have produced given an "ideal" (in the dog-raising world's viewpoint) start to life. Proper nutrition, socialization, etc.

Wouldn't change how I feel about Kim and the cloned pup would still be her own self but the academic side of me would just love to know.

 

[NicoleLJ]

I am watching the TLC show right now. It is not changing my mind at all though.

 

[Renee750il]

So -- do you believe (as I do) that our dogs do have souls/spirits?

If so, then how do you clone that?

Nope. Wouldn't even entertain the notion.

 

[Dekka]

I always assumed that the personality would be different?

Personality is a LOT genetic or so studies show. Esp twin studies. You wouldn't get back the same dog, but barring huge trauma (and even then) it would have a highly similar personality.

BUT our relationship with have with our very loved dog (pet) is not a static one. I am no longer the same person I was when Dekka was a puppy. When she goes (hopefully a LONG time from now) I would want back the Dekka who left, not the Dekka puppy. What makes us so great as companions is not only who we are but the journey together. No clone would ever have that same journey.

And to to the person who said it would be similar but with differences that would be glaring because the person would be expecting the same.. I think it would be too painful. I was worried a half sister in similar age would be too close to Kat. I worried that she might be too different from Kat.. and that is only a half sibling! (for those who are new I lost a young and VERY loved dog this summer in an accident)

Even if cloning was an option.. I couldn't have done it. The puppy might have been lovely.. but it wouldn't have been Kat.. only a mockery of what we had. (as if she wasn't unique and could be replaced)

 

[NicoleLJ]

I am thinking maybe some of the money she spent should have gone to therapy. I am watching the show now. Trouble died 3 yrs ago. Every night she places the urn with his ashes on her bed on a little blanket in the center of her bed and goes to sleep holding it. She also talks to the mural. And she lost her job just before she needed to send the money for the first one. She said she would sell her car or what ever she needs to to do this.

One comment that the person describing everything made that rubbed me the wrong way a bit was "Only a handful of the most devoted dog lovers are cloning their pets." Getting a cloned pet, personally, is not a measure of devotion. Just because person A clones their pet does not mean that person B who doesn't is any less devoted.

 

[Laurelin]

Yeah no. That's creepy.

I also think it's unfair to the new dog. They never get to be their own dog, appreciated for themselves.

And like Renee, I believe people and dogs have a spirit/soul whatever you want to call it. It is something that just cannot be replicated.

 

[Tahla9999]

I am thinking maybe some of the money she spent should have gone to therapy. I am watching the show now. Trouble died 3 yrs ago. Every night she places the urn with his ashes on her bed on a little blanket in the center of her bed and goes to sleep holding it. She also talks to the mural. And she lost her job just before she needed to send the money for the first one. She said she would sell her car or what ever she needs to to do this.

One comment that the person describing everything made that rubbed me the wrong way a bit was "Only a handful of the most devoted dog lovers are cloning their pets." Getting a cloned pet, personally, is not a measure of devotion. Just because person A clones their pet does not mean that person B who doesn't is any less devoted.

Yeah, not the most devoted... but the most obssesed with their pets, yes. The guy on there couldn't go out on the date because he was thinking about his dog. Just the way he talk about his dog just goes to show the extent of his obssessiveness.

Cloning is a big no-no for me. It just wouldn't be the same no matter how similar the dog may be to the original.

 

[ravennr]

i can certainly understand the want to do something like this. we don't want to lose our pets. by all means, if you have the money and the animals aren't suffering, go for it.

in my head i've said i'd love to clone Rockefeller. he's the most perfect cat i've ever owned and has been a trip to own so far and i am so excited to see how he grows old (is that weird??). in reality, i will never have this type of money, and would probably back out at the last minute for some reason. maybe to protect the 'sanctity' of his life with me the first time around.

i've also pondered cloning him right now. what an odd world i'd live in with two of him.

 

[Laurelin]

I'm not so sure animals don't suffer for it, though. Where do the surrogates come from (they have to implant in multiple surrogates)? What is their life like? What about the leftover puppies? How about the clones themselves? Clones generally live shorter lives than the original.

 

[Catsi]

I also think it's unfair to the new dog. They never get to be their own dog, appreciated for themselves.

And like Renee, I believe people and dogs have a spirit/soul whatever you want to call it. It is something that just cannot be replicated.

All of this. I find the prospect very sad. As much as I love my dogs, I'm also excited about the other dogs that I will be lucky enough to share my life with. Some will have similar traits, sure but they will all be different and just... individuals, special beings to be cherished for who they are.