Would I Clone My Dog? The Temptation Is Real
I’ll be honest—if you had asked me a few years ago whether I’d consider cloning my dog, I probably would have laughed it off. But recently, while researching pet cloning, I realized just how much science has advanced since Dolly the sheep made history in 1996. It turns out, cloning pets isn’t just a futuristic fantasy—it’s already happening.
The First Cloned Dog
Back in 2005, the world welcomed its first cloned dog, an Afghan Hound named Snuppy. But here’s the kicker—it took 123 surrogate dogs to carry embryos, and out of those, only three became pregnant. One puppy sadly passed away early, leaving just one successful clone: Snuppy, who lived to be 11 years old. The process has improved since then, but the behind-the-scenes reality is still murky at best.
The Dark Side of Cloning
One thing that stood out to me when exploring cloning websites was the vague language about surrogates. Most sites simply say the cloned embryo is placed in a surrogate, where it “grows naturally.” But what happens to these surrogate dogs afterward? Unlike kidney transplants in cats—where donor cats are rehomed after surgery—there’s little transparency about the fate of surrogate mothers in cloning. Many are likely used repeatedly for egg donations and pregnancies. That raises some serious ethical questions before we even talk about the cost.
The Price Tag: A Reality Check
Cloning isn’t cheap. For around $2,000, you can store your pet’s genetic material (even if they’ve recently passed). But actually cloning them? That’ll set you back about $50,000. For some, the price is worth it to have a genetic copy of their beloved pet, but for most, it’s an unattainable dream. And even if you do have that kind of money, what are you really getting?
It’s Not the Same Dog
Genetics play a role in a dog’s temperament, but environment and life experiences shape their personality. So even if you get a puppy that looks identical to your old dog, there’s no guarantee they’ll act the same. And let’s be real—whenever we bring a new pet home, we can’t help but compare them to the ones we’ve lost. Now imagine that comparison is with the exact same genetic dog. That’s a lot of pressure for both you and the pup.
To Clone or Not to Clone?
I won’t pretend I haven’t been tempted. When I lost my Chihuahua, Tate, I would have done almost anything to bring him back. If I had known about cloning back then, I might have paid for the storage fee. But would I have gone through with cloning him? Probably not. Not just because of the price, but because I would have missed out on the unique, lovable quirks of my current Chihuahuas, Ned and Fred.
Sometimes, letting go opens the door to new, wonderful experiences. And isn’t that what life is all about?
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