Woman Pays $50,000 To Clone Dog

01/10/2012

Would you clone your pet if money wasn't an object?

We all love our pets more than anything, but how far would you go to memorialize them? A woman devastated by the loss of her little dog "Trouble" traveled to South Korea (...a country not known for their humane treatment of dogs btw) and paid $50,000 to have her beloved dog cloned. 

"Danielle" is one dedicated dog-mom, as depicted on a recent epidode of the Anderson Cooper show. She has a giant picture of Trouble's face covering an entire wall, (see Exhibit A) and the same huge photo on a large comforter on her bed. Instead of of grieving and moving on with her life, she went to South Korea and paid $50,000 to have him cloned. 

[Want to See More? Watch TLC's "I Cloned My Pet" Jan. 11 at 9PM E/P]

"It is not for everyone," says Danielle about her extreme measures to recreate her pet. "It was something that I wanted to do so it worked for me." Check out a  clip from Anderson Cooper's show below.

How far is too far?

Cloning a dog does not mean that the dog's unique personality will be replicated - and frankly your pet's personality and quirks are what makes them different in my opinion!  The idea of cloning a pet might seem tempting, but the cost seems irresponsible when you think about what $50,000 could do to help shelter pets or other animals in need. 

What do you think?

Photo source: AndersonCooper

Tune in to TLC Wednesday Jan. 11, at 9PM E/P and meet dog-cloners willing to do anything to bring their beloved pooches back from the dead. With the help of cutting-edge DNA science their dreams of having an exact clone of their pets may come true.

Comments

[TRacey]

I think it's very pathetic and wasteful.

[ZaCloud]

That money could have gone toward rescue shelters, adopting pets in need, all kinds of more useful things.

It's already been proven that cloned animals DO NOT have the same personality as the original animal. Just like how twins are genetically identical yet have their own distinct personalities.

The soul is gone. Cloning the body is useless and doesn't come with the same soul. What an awful waste, and if anything disrespectful to the deceased pet.

Now she'll delude herself into thinking she never lost him, or has him back... when his soul is waiting in Heaven forsaken by her, replaced by some other dog just reusing his cell patterns.

That's a bigger loss than accepting his death.

[Jacky vazquez]

I would clone my Niki but it still would be strange plus no dog is like her

[Alkg]

I can't believe all the comments chastizing this woman for spending HER OWN MONEY the way she wants to! Seriously! Have you ever taken a vacation? That money could have been donated to charity. Ever bought a pair of shoes or clothing item you didn't need? Guess what, that money could have been donated too! With all the waste we see every day, why are people jumping all over her? People buy cars they don't need, clothes they don't need, food they don't need, pay for cable TV, cell phones, electronics, etc. Why are you casting stones?

[Karen]

well there's the answer. she "walked into the place to buy him". She's one of those pathetic, ignorant pet owners who buys from pet stores instead of supporting shelter dogs from the start. That explains why she wouldn't think of giving the 50,000 to a shelter. I deal with people like her every day and they all make me sick.

[Doggie Mum]

It's her money to spend, She worked for it. Is she happy? If she is happy with her choice and the new pup has a forever home. Then the $50,000 was well spent. I myself would have purchased a dog from the same line. DNA testing.. Then off shopping we would Go! With the new baby! On a more serious note,
Danielle. I'm so sorry for
the loss of your fur Child. I hope the New Fur Kid fills your life with all the Joy and Happiness you can stand,

[Lauren]

This is a blatant example of one having more money than brains..........

[Pet Dr.]

I bet most people in here complain about the money she 'wasted' and probably they dont even donate $1 to support shelters... Is her money she can use it as she want... there a lot of people supporting as they can shelters, so stop pointing at her -.- that just proves she loved her dog so much... i literally would do the same if i had the money to spend on that.

[Lauren Phillips]

I can't believe this woman wasted $50,000.00 cloning her dog. You cannot clone their personalities and that's what makes all our babies unique. This borders on creepy and when I think of all the money that could have gone to shelter dogs and helping feed them and finding them homes well it really makes me mad.

[A Facebook User]

I had a dog I absolutely loved and if I had the money, I wouldn't think twice about cloning him.

[A Facebook User]

And, I'd like to add, my dog was a mutt. I'd never find another dog exactly like him, so yes, cloning him would have been awesome! Cloning a pure breed is pointless.

[Marie]

"It's her money to spend, She worked for it. "

There is no evidence that she worked for anything. For all we know she charged 50k on her Visa, or inherited it from Granny.

[meriam canaveral]

well its her choice, but for me the time i had with my dogs will be the most precious one, i rather adopt a dog than to clone the one that died, you can help animals that need a loving home....

[Melissa]

well... it's better than the people I talk to who say, "I love my dog so much, I just want to breed him once and get 1 puppy!" WEll... you get 10 puppies, keep one, send 9 out into the world to make more puppies, some of which end in shelters. Cloning one dog is better... but honestly, just go adopt another dog. Overlap your dogs so your old beloved teaches your new beloved. It works.

[mizsherle]

I loved my dog. He died and he didn't want to leave me. He looked in my eyes a long time and then he left. He won't be coming back here to earth, but his energy is out there and I know that. A clone of him would not be him, and it would be a painful reminder that I can't hold and pet the being that I loved.

[undrgrndgirl]

what a waste. cloning won't give you the same dog. experience and genetics made up the original pooch. the clone won't have the same experiences...i hope she doesn't suffer too much buyers remorse when she realizes the dog isn't the SAME dog.

@melissa, the cloning also creates unwanted litters of pups who are an unknown in terms of health problems later in life.

"quite often, the clones do not survive because of abnormalities or multiple clones are successfully birthed and the client only wants one dog"

from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/south-koreas-dog-cloning-industry-raises-ethical-red/story?id=15309415)

[Jody Shearer]

I just lost my baby girl a little over a month ago & at first I thought I would, but then I thought about it! As much as I miss her and want her here with me, a clone of her Would Not be Her! One day I will be reunited with my baby and it will be Amazing <3

[Lola]

I'd do it.

[Rachel]

Well, I mean, what's $50,000 for a pet when who knows how much it cost him to go through the transition to become a woman. Although I'd want some money back on that face.

[Kyle]

pathetic and wasteful?
money could have gone towards shelters?
it is her money, and if having her puppy clones fills that void in her life, that is her right.
it is not her responsibility to rescue dogs.
practice what you preach.

[Lisa]

I personally think this is WRONG! we need to go on and give a good home to another animal in need. There are so many pets out there that need a loving home... If she would of done that... there would have been one happy shelter dog for sure. Very Sad if you ask me, very selfish as well.

[Sam Bullish]

I had to put my dog of 13 years down a few months ago. If money is not an issue I say go for it. I might.

[josiel]

I do watever I want to with my money, she can do the same thing with her money.

[RickReagan]

Like it or not it was the owner's money. It is hardly fair to tell someone how to spend their money they earned. Everyone bitches and moans about charities as they walk around with Iphone 4s, Ipods, and designer clothes. People like to pretend they care but out numbers show people care more about personal entertainment than the wellfare of others. So if her dog is what entertains her let he blow her money however she wants.

[Dawn]

Please people! Movie stars spend more than that on a weekend, and nobody says anything. People spend that kind of money on a car and then trade it in for a newer car every 3 years. If she has the money and doesn't care to spend 50K then I say good for her. Leave her alone! Now that being said, I personally would never spend that kind of money b/c I'm too cheap.