Cloning Pets: Is it Ethical?
By: Jo Singer
The bond between people and their pets can be one of the deepest connections we may ever feel, even superseding those formed with other humans. With the degree of love and affection that can develop with our pets, when they die the degree of grief over their loss can be devastating. Of course, this grief is the price we pay for loving. Death is inevitable and most of us dread that inevitable loss.
Today science has provided us with an option which potentially can stave off that deep sorrow. If we are fortunate enough to have the financial wherewithal, we can have our beloved pets cloned. Several companies are offering this service to pet owners around the country.
Recently I read an article on the Internet about Edgar Otto and his wife, Nina, who reside in Florida. They recently welcomed a cloned copy of Lancelot, their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, who died a year ago. Their new puppy, Lancelot Encore, is nicknamed "Lancy" and had a price tag of $155,000; the cost of the cloning process.
They won their bid in an auction with a biotech company in San Francisco, Ca. They had submitted a sample of Lancelot's DNA to a company in South Korea five years ago, banking it for future use, when they learned that cloning was possible. It was their wish to "prolong" their relationship with Lancelot.
Edgar Otto is the son of the co- founder of NASCAR, Edward Otto, so finances were not an issue for the family. The Ottos report that Lancy is amazingly similar to Lancelot, not only in appearance, but in some of his unique behaviors, such as the way he crosses his paws, and the way he walks. Mrs. Otto said, "I only was hoping to get the essence of Lancelot back. I know I've gotten that. Anything else is icing on the cake."
And while the Ottos are thrilled with their puppy, is he really a carbon copy of Lancelot? Is he the same dog? I have both ethical and emotional questions about this procedure. I am happy for the Ottos who are enjoying Lancy. But is it really possible to separate the two so that he is loved uniquely for himself? Is there an unconscious motivation on the part of people who clone their pets to avoid the grieving process when they extract DNA for future action? And . . . if there are underlying genetic problems, won't this just double the risk of any offspring from a cloned dog to be passed on to future generations?
As far as I am concerned, as I fantasize about cloning one of my wonderful kitties, I keep thinking I might even hold some resentment toward the cloned cat. After all, the copy, no matter how "identical", can never replace the original kitty, nor do I think it should.
What are your thoughts about cloning a beloved pet? If it were financially feasible, would you consider doing it? Leave a comment and share your feelings.
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Comments (12)
Anonymous March 5, 2009 1:48 PM
I think science is trying to be GOD. No matter how much we love something, we all know that some day, our beloved fur babies will pass. This does not mean that we should reproduce them. When it comes to cloning, I just think that sometimes we take things to a level that is not meant to be.
Anonymous March 5, 2009 3:02 PM
Oh gosh, I'm a good person to answer this one. I lost my dog last August and I still cry over him a few times a week, I miss him SO very much. However, I don't believe that cloning him would be similar to still having him around like a replacement for my Reggie. So my answer is a definite no. I plan to get a new dog, he won't be Reggie, but he'll have a new personality, that I know I'll fall in love with.
Anonymous March 5, 2009 3:44 PM
NO! I wouldn't even consider the idea because as you said they are NOT the real pet. When one of my greyhounds passed away, I looked for another that would take her place and then realized that just wouldn't be fair to the new dog as he or she could NEVER replace the one I had lost. Let them go! Love another!
Anonymous March 5, 2009 4:08 PM
Never fool around with Mother Nature.
Amy
Anonymous March 5, 2009 5:51 PM
I just dont feel right about it of clonin... I feel that GOD gave them to us to love and in that we have to let go when its time... not to make another just like them.. I have lost and i'm not saying that i do NOT miss they and would do anything to have them with me,but when its my time to die,i'll be with them and not this way of cloning them.. its just not right...
Anonymous March 5, 2009 5:56 PM
When I lost Taylor, I know inside that not even a clone would replace him...we had that special bond. He's still loved and missed terribly, but now I have 4 other furbabies to grab my attention. Leave cloning to science.
Andy ;)
Anonymous March 5, 2009 6:44 PM
Cloned animals have been shown to age faster and die sooner than naturally born animals. Cost aside (I don't believe in telling people how to spend the money they have earned), why would you want to fall in love with the animal all over again and then have it age rapidly and die SOONER than a normal animal would?
And then there's the fact that a different puppy or kitten or horse or whatever is going to go homeless because you resurrected one that died.
Jim Arnold March 5, 2009 11:23 PM
The clone might have the same DNA as your pet, but it will be very expensive, have a shorter life span and possible ill health due to accidents of DNA copying, and may not have the same personality as you expect.
Ruth from England March 6, 2009 4:21 AM
I love our cats too much to ever think about cloning them,our cats past and our cats present are special unique beings to be loved for themselves, they are irreplacable !Just the same as us, they have one life and then should be allowed to rest in peace.It's heartbreaking to lose a pet,but in my opinion it's selfish to make a copy of them.
Apart from this, cloning is still a fairly new concept, who knows what effects it could have on the cloned animals future ?
There are plenty of needy animals here and now, I believe that giving one of those a home is far better than trying to resurrect a much loved pet.
carrie March 6, 2009 4:27 AM
No no no! we are already playing at being God, and no matter how much we miss our beloved pet, a clone could never ever replace it. They make look the same, but each and every one of them has their own personality. Please let us all stop interfering with the natural cycle of life and death. We are not God.
Iniki March 7, 2009 8:22 PM
Cloning pets is stupid. Even if you clone a pet it will not be just like the pet it came from. The environment it is raised in will not be the same and circumstances that arise as it grows will influence the pet as it grows and develops. Remember the good old "Chaos Theory?" Well, no two animals will grow up the same thanks to mother nature's diverse life. It would be wonderful if you could have your pet forever but....it just isn't possible.
GarykPatton June 16, 2009 12:05 AM
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