[peppy264]

From the paper today:

A former Canadian police officer is now raising a litter of puppies cloned from his search-and-rescue dog.

His dog, Trakr, who helped search for victims in the rubble of the 9/11 attacks, won a contest to undergo a cloning procedure in a California lab that pet owners can purchase themselves for more than $140,000.

The five cloned German shepherd pups -- Trustt, Solace, Valor, Prodigy and Deja vu -- are to be trained to lead into disaster situations as a unit that their owner intends to call "Team Trakr." .......

Full article: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1706598

Cloning dogs: Right or wrong ?

 

[MissMutt]

In the case of the average person with a lot of money, cloning an average dog is something I totally disagree with. A person doing such, in my opinion, deserves to be slapped and showed to the nearest shelter and/or responsible breeder. There's no guarantee that the puppy will be just like his/her parent, due to things like the environment and situation the pup grows up in.

I don't think it's necessary in this case, either. Given the right breeding program, good early training and socialization, it is certainly possible to produce many SAR/K9 dogs. I feel like this is more of an appeasement to human emotion (holding on to a lost partner) than it is some kind of revolutionary way to get another bunch of good working dogs.

I am assuming the dog wasn't intact and couldn't sire a litter?

 

[hulkamaniac]

I personally have no problems with animal cloning. I've always been curious how much of a dog (or any other animal for that matter) temperament is based on genetics and how much on upbringing.

 

[Dakota Spirit]

I feel like this is more of an appeasement to human emotion (holding on to a lost partner) than it is some kind of revolutionary way to get another bunch of good working dogs.

I agree.

I don't believe cloning gets you much more then an expensive replica (in appearance) of the original dog. There are plenty of other dogs out there with the temp. and skill for search and rescue. I'd rather see them trained and used over clones.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

I don't think the dog cloning thing is going to be to big, at least not for us common people. It cost's about $150,000 so the only people that will have it done are people that have big egos and big pocket books such as Paris Hilton.

 

[peppy264]

Sure, but what if 10 years from now it only cost $1,000 ? What would you think about it then? Right or wrong?

 

[Lolas_Dad]

Sure, but what if 10 years from now it only cost $1,000 ? What would you think about it then? Right or wrong?

I'd still think it is wrong. People might get the same looking dog externally but they will have their own personality. Also what about the genetics? wouldn't cloning over and over be like inbreeding?

 

[peppy264]

.. wouldn't cloning over and over be like inbreeding?

Beats me.

Personally all cloning just feels ethically and morally wrong to me.

But I was curious how others felt.

Would you want a clone of your favorite dog (disregarding costs)?

If you competed in shows and had a perfect looking dog, a real champion, would you be tempted to clone him?

 

[MissMutt]

Would you want a clone of your favorite dog (disregarding costs)?

While it would be interesting to see what a clone of Marge was like after an acceptable puppyhood, I feel like it'd be a disrespect to her (trying to duplicate what I feel is the combination of genetics and environment to produce a one of a kind being) and to all the other dogs out there. I love my dog; she is affectionate, smart, and funny. But, honestly, I bet somewhere in the world a skinny black Lab mix with many of the same traits is about to be given the purple injection. So, no, I don't think I could do it.

 

[txcollies]

If you competed in shows and had a perfect looking dog, a real champion, would you be tempted to clone him?

No. Never

 

[Pickleisaminidaschi]

I saw this on the news.

 

[ladyshadowhollyjc]

Would you want a clone of your favorite dog (disregarding costs)?

No. Although it's sad to let go of a beloved pet, I'm also looking forward to the others that will share my life in the future. Do I wish I could have some of them back? Oh yeah... some were taken from my life way too soon it seems, however cloning still wouldn't bring them back. They may have the same genetics, but that is not the same animal that I once shared my life with.

 

[Junior]

If it were cheaper I'd do it in a hearbeat.

 

[Dakota Spirit]

While it would be interesting to see what a clone of Marge was like after an acceptable puppyhood, I feel like it'd be a disrespect to her (trying to duplicate what I feel is the combination of genetics and environment to produce a one of a kind being) and to all the other dogs out there. I love my dog; she is affectionate, smart, and funny. But, honestly, I bet somewhere in the world a skinny black Lab mix with many of the same traits is about to be given the purple injection. So, no, I don't think I could do it.

Ditto agian.