Pet cloning: Can science replace a cherished pet?

The concept of pet cloning moved from the realm of science fiction to reality in the early 21st century. The first cloned mammal, Dolly the Sheep, made headlines in 1996. Dog and cat cloning became available to the public in 2015, facilitated by the Texas-based company ViaGen. Since then, the company has cloned nearly a thousand pets.

Pet cloning involves a series of intricate procedures. It begins with a tissue sample from the pet to be cloned. This sample is cultured to produce millions of cells. An egg donor's nucleus is then removed and replaced with a cell from the cultured sample. The egg is then implanted into a surrogate animal, who carries the embryo to term.

The process of pet cloning is not cheap. ViaGen, for instance, charges $50,000 to clone dogs and cats, and $85,000 to clone horses. Some pet owners have gone to great lengths, such as selling personal belongings, to afford the cloning fee.

Pet cloning is not without controversy. Critics argue that the process can be stressful for surrogate animals, who must undergo surgery for embryo implantation and may face risks associated with pregnancy and birth. Additionally, there's a moral question about cloning pets when many animals in shelters are in need of homes.

At its core, pet cloning can be seen as a form of bereavement coping. The promise of replicating a beloved pet offers the illusion of defying death. But this doesn't guarantee the cloned pet will share the same personality traits as the original pet.

Although cloned pets are genetically identical to their predecessors, they may not embody the same unique qualities. Factors such as environment, social interactions, and even diet can shape the individuality of the cloned pet.

Pet owners who opt for cloning often hope the cloned pet will resemble the original in more than just physical appearance. However, their experiences vary. Some find that their cloned pets bear striking resemblances to their originals, while others find significant differences in personality.

For some pet owners, the cloned pets fall short in replicating the unique bond they shared with their original pets. For others, the cloned pet offers a sense of continuity, seemingly picking up where the original pet left off.

One proposed explanation for the perceived similarities between original pets and their clones is the theory of cellular memory. This theory posits that memories are stored at a cellular level and can be passed on to cloned animals.

Even with a cloned pet, the grief associated with the loss of the original pet can persist. The cloned pet, regardless of its similarities to the original, cannot fully fill the void left behind.

Despite the ethical controversies and emotional complexities, pet cloning continues to garner interest. Some pet owners find comfort in merely having the option of cloning, even if they never exercise it.

Cloning pets presents several moral and psychological challenges. Understanding the unique mix of science, emotion, and the human-animal relationship is made possible by hearing from people who have cloned their pets. We must keep talking about pet cloning so that people may make educated choices for their animals and their families in the future.

"Pets are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras