Dog Community

Cloning - it begins...

Chuffy

Posted : 8/5/2008 8:41:32 AM

A story about a woman who had her pit bull terrier cloned....

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080805/twl-booger-the-pit-bull-is-back-all-five-41f21e0.html

ETA - ARGH!!! I can't get the link to be live and I'm doing all the same things I normally do....

If all else fails copy and paste it. Sorry. Sad

Edit again - seems to be working OK now Tongue Tied

I disapprove strongly of this practise. The idea that the original pet can simply be replaced in that way does their memory a disservice because it sounds as though she never finished grieving for Booger...

I also feel bad for the dogs that will never be exact replicas of Booger, but will always be held to his standard.

I am also appalled at the amount of money spent to produce these puppies when criminal numbers of pit bulls die in shelters all over the US. Pretty disgusted in this corner.... Your thoughts?

papillon806

Posted : 8/5/2008 3:44:22 PM

Well, cloning is actually a pretty simple process (I clone different cells from time to time in the lab when we produce synthetic viruses for gene therapy). I guess if someone wants to pay for it then go ahead. However, they need to realize that while the dog may be born in the same mental "format," what it's taught during the growing process also helps shape the personality. Also, color pattern won't necessarily be the same because that is determined by "conditions" in the uterus. So if they wanted to clone their dog based on personality or color pattern, they will be very disappointed. Not to mention they have to find people who loved their original dog just as much b/c they will have a whole litter of 'em.

Chuffy

Posted : 8/9/2008 3:59:33 PM

papillon806
Well, cloning is actually a pretty simple process (I clone different cells from time to time in the lab when we produce synthetic viruses for gene therapy).

To clarify - I wasn't saying I disapprove of cloning... I disapprove of cloning to replace deceased pets. It's a stupid idea and a total waste of money, not to mention insulting to the memory of the pet that died.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/9/2008 4:18:58 PM

RWbeagles posted about this very same woman earlier this week -- huge cloud of "suspicion" (we'll use that word) that this woman is the same person who was arrested for the 'rape' of a Mormon missionary 'man' like 20 odd years ago (she imprisioned him in her house, er "etc.";) and at the time she made all sorts of claims that she was so in love with him that she'd ski down Mt. Everest in the nude with a flower in her nose or some silly thing. (that's really close to a quote).

That being said, I think you'd have to be out of your mind to try to clone a pet who has been gone 2 years -- I think that truly shows an incredible lack of regard FOR THAT PET. You can't bring them back and to spend all that money to clone them shows an incredible disregard for the love of that unique individual. It's an incredibly UN-healthy frame of mind.

Can we just say that the name of the dog sorta says it all? ("Booger"??)