Profiles of Cloned Dogs

The cloning of pets is still a very new technology, but already some very worthy pets have been cloned and successful clone pets have been created. In a demonstration of the best possible use of this emerging technology, cloning companies are creating clone pets of dogs that have enriched, aided, and even saved lives. The genetic makeup of the original dogs, along with careful training, has made them into intelligent and hard-working worker dogs. Using their genetic makeup to create clone pets increases the likelihood that these cloned dogs will have the same aptitude for their work. These cloned dogs will be raised and trained to help humans, and chances are that they will be just as valuable to humans as their genetic donors.

Trakr: Trakr was the heroic dog who located the last human survivor in the wreckage of the World Trade Center disaster. He died due to a neurological disorder that was likely caused by the toxic conditions of the wreckage. Before he died, though, BioArts International named him the most “clone-worthy” dog and offered to clone him free of charge. Trakr's owner says that he plans to train Trakr's clone as a rescue dog.

Booger: When Booger's owner was attacked by a vicious dog, he saved her life. In addition, he helped her to recover. Though he was not trained as a service dog, he taught himself to help her perform everyday tasks. Booger's owner decided to have him cloned after he died. She had five cloned dogs created, kept three as her own, and donated two as service dogs.

Toppies: The Toppies are seven puppies named Toppy who were cloned from Chase, a Korean sniffer dog. This instance is an important example of clone pets because the puppies have proven that dogs cloned from skilled worker dogs are easier to train as worker dogs. The manager of the project that produced the cloned dogs maintains that it is easier to train these puppies than it is to train ordinary dogs.

Cloning Like Breeding

It is ridiculous to oppose cloning of pets when breeding is as widely accepted as it is in our culture. Breeding is a process that is completely controlled by humans and has been conducted for centuries. Breeders can choose the features that allow animals to fit their criteria and maximize their potential. Those are exactly the reasons that some pet cloning companies give for creating clone dogs. Thus, if breeding of pets is acceptable to our society, then so must be cloning of pets.

Pet cloning and breeding are similar in that humans control the genetic makeup of animals born through the processes. A website called NetPets says, “Breeds must not be confused with species or even subspecies, which occur naturally under the influence of natural selection...An important characteristic of breeds is that they are created by breeders.” Clone dogs can be described similarly; they are purposely created by man with specific genetic parameters.

Clearly, breeding is genetic manipulation that would not happen without human interference. That does not mean that the process is a bad one. The site goes on to state, “At the very least we should all have clean consciences once again, knowing that we were making our best efforts, using up-to-date genetic knowledge, to produce sane, healthy, robust canine companions.” This article describes dog breeding, but the process is used on other animals and for many purposes. In farm animals, breeding increases efficiency, and in breeding of any kind of animal, the purpose is to ensure that certain genetic traits are passed on.

Just as breeding is useful to humans, so is cloning of pets. Pet cloning, like breeding, allows animals to reach their full potential. Clone dogs, like their bred counterparts, are born with genes to be utilized for specific purposes. Pet cloning will prove to be just as useful to this society as has breeding.