Heroic Dog Cloned Successfully

| Print | By Jo Singer | June 22, 2009 3:23 PM

I remain ambivalent about animal cloning, especially the copying of genetic material from animals which are considered to be "pets" in nature. I am concerned that some people who are motivated to clone their pet to "replace" a beloved one may be very disappointed that their "new" pet is not identical in personality or show those unique antics while its appearance is strikingly similar. They may not be open to allowing the cloned pet into their hearts unconditionally.

However this particular story about cloning a heroic and very special dog touched me deeply and gave me pause to examine reasons why the procedure may open very worthwhile doors.

Mr. James Symington, a retired Canadian police officer now residing in Los Angeles, entered an essay contest in 2008 in which he explained why he thought that Trakr, a search and rescue German shepherd who located the last survivor stuck in rubble subsequent to the terror attacks on the Trade Towers in New York City, on September 11, 2001. A biotech company, BioArts International, gave the cloned puppies to Mr. Symington.

22-cloned puppies.jpg On June 14, Mr. Symington had his first meeting with the pups. According to a statement by BioArts International, the meeting was a very emotional one. Mr. Symington told BioArts staff, "They're identical -- down to the smallest detail. Few dogs are born with exceptional abilities -- Trakr was one of those dogs. And if these puppies have the same attributes as Trakr, I plan on putting them in to search and rescue so they can help people the way Trakr did."

The procedure was headed by Dr. Hwang-Suk who produced the first canine cloning in 2005, and took place in South Korea at the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation.
The team headed by Dr. Hwang used genes obtained from Trakr, and replaced them in random dogs. After the eggs were stimulated and had grown into embryos, they were implanted in surrogate mothers.

While the goal was to create only one puppy, the outcome amazingly produced five genetically identical puppies born to the surrogate mothers. The first cloned puppy was born on December 8, 2008, and the final puppy was born on April 4, 2009.

One of the search-and-rescue volunteers, Rick Cushman, personally observed Trakr's discovery of the fifth and final survivor, Genelle Guzman on September 12, 2001 and was happy to learn that Trakr had been cloned. He said, "If Trakr hadn't picked up her scent, we might not have known she was there. They helped save her life."

However, there is a bitter-sweet ending to this story. Trakr died two months ago at the amazing age of 16 years old. But fortunately his genes will live on in these miraculous puppies.

Watch the compelling video of the story by visiting the YouTube Video made by CBS News Online
.
What are your thoughts about this heroic dog's cloning? Leave a comment and share.
Photo credit: Damian Dovarganes / AP

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Comments (10)

Vicki June 22, 2009 7:17 PM

Gosh, I really don't know how I feel about this. On Mothers Day I lost my beloved Great Pyrenees. I think if he were cloned, I would love the offspring, but it would probably bring bittersweet memories as I would know that they looked like him, but they weren't. So I am pretty conflicted over this one.

Diana June 22, 2009 7:37 PM

This is not an example of someone wanting to keep a beloved pet around for their own pleasure. This is an example of someone wanting to keep the genetic skill set of an amazing dog alive to help others. While I am, in general, against cloning, this cloning is justified.

Iniki June 22, 2009 7:50 PM

Cloning just does not make sense. Even if you clone the perfect replica it will not grow up to be the exact same pet because environment and things that occur during its growth will influence how it will develop. With so very many dogs and cats being put to sleep each day, why would you do this? genetics can clone an animal but how it is raised and what it experiences will mold it's personality. Ok, I put my soap box away.

jmuhj June 22, 2009 7:55 PM

I'm absolutely outraged on the subject of cloning, period. And though I do not like dogs at all, the fact that millions upon millions of healthy, adoptable dogs are killed in this nation because of there being too many of them and not enough homes for them is an outrage. I see absolutely nothing positive in this event whatsoever.

Amy June 23, 2009 5:43 AM

Sorry folks but, you don't fool with Mother Nature!

Ruth June 23, 2009 5:46 AM

I think it's very wrong to clone an animal no matter what the circumstances are.Like us they have one life and one soul and I believe they go to Heaven and deserve to RIP. Who knows what terrible mutilations might happen in the future from cloned animals and also I shudder to think of what goes on in laboratories with scientists desperate to be rich and famous.
It breaks my heart every time we lose one of our cats but they are all unique and irreplaceable.
I say leave Nature alone !

Barbara June 23, 2009 11:48 AM

When I see "Biotech Foundation" it makes me shudder, because I immediately think of all those animals in cages, with no voice and no choice being subject to the whims of mad scientists. And this IS madness, there are many many breeds of intelligent dogs who could be trained to search and rescue, and thousands of dogs killed daily that never have the chance to prove their worth. What I'd also like to know is what happened to the "random dogs" that the genes were implanted into? Were they killed when the egss had grown into embryos and needed to be retrieved and implanted into surrogate mothers? How many canine lives were sacrificed not only for these five puppies to be created but in all the research previous to this.In my mind is the crying of lab animals, caged until death.
Every animal is unique, just as every person is, no one wants to lose a beloved pet but it happens and we shouldn't try to recreate them, it is not the same animal, it's merely a copy.

Rani June 23, 2009 1:11 PM

I am not crazy about the whole idea, for all the reasons given so far. But that said, I hope the cloned pups "perform" as well as Trakr did. And if they don't, I REALLY hope their new owners will love and cherish them anyway and not ditch them because they didn't live up to Trakr's abilities.

Gratis Filme Downloaden July 19, 2009 11:13 AM

Hey, ok, I get it, I guess - but does this really work?

facebok October 31, 2009 8:11 AM

Tell me, your presence in the social network facebok?

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