Cloned dog could create copycat controversy


By Julia Szabo

Comments(2)

Cloning dogs is a hot topic again, as the Korean firm RNL Bio gears up to fill its first consumer cloning order, in partnership with the team of scientists that in 2005 successfully produced Snuppy, an Afghan Hound and the world's first cloned dog.  

On February 13, Reuters reported that the Seoul firm would be taking consumer cloning orders. Then, as reported on February 15 by Associated Press, Bernann McKunney of California became the first customer, supplying RNL Bio with preserved tissue taken from the ear of her beloved Pit Bull, who died a year and a half ago.  

RNL Bio plans to charge $150,000 per successful cloning, payable upon receipt of the new dog. However, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, McKunney got a substantial discount, and will pay only $50,000 because she's allowing the procedure to be publicized.  

But the chances of successfully creating a canine clone are about 25 percent, according to RNL Bio spokeswoman Kim Yoon.  

Last March, RNL Bio succeeded in cloning two wolves, Snuwolf and Snuwolffy, who appear in an AP photograph looking out from behind the bars of a cage at the Seoul Zoo.

While the ASPCA calls for a moratorium on animal cloning, advocates for shelter animals, whose mission is to get dogs out from behind bars and into permanent homes, are taking this opportunity to remind dog lovers that cloning dogs is unnecessary when literally millions are available nationally for adoption.  

Advocates for the Pit Bull, which represents by far the largest percentage of dogs in animal shelters across the country, encourage Pit Bull fanciers to save money on cloning fees by visiting their local shelter or rescue group to adopt.  

"I'm not surprised that a Pit Bull inspired that kind of love - they're that kind of dog," says Jane Berkey of Animal Farm Foundation. But with so many homeless Pit Bulls, I would hope people would honor their dog's memory by adopting one not so lucky."  

Added Cydney Cross of the rescue group Out of the Pits, "Only one in 800 Pit Bulls get a home, and for every dog we place we get 1,000 calls and e-mails asking us to take in homeless dogs, I'm sure there's a dog out there to fill the hole in her heart without cloning."

Others marvel at the unfortunate name of McKunney's deceased Pit Bull: Booger.  

To those who fear that a shelter dog won't be as beautiful or talented as one created in a laboratory, adoption advocates such as film industry watchdog American Humane point to the movie Walker Payne. The director and producers of this searing period drama about 1950s-era dog fighting in the American South put ace dog trainer Roger Schumacher in charge of casting. Schumacher's team, famed for their work on 101 Dalmatians, was able to assemble an entire cast of dog stars and understudies - literally dozens of Pit Bulls - at the Los Angeles city shelter.

And each dog got a worthy handle, starting with the lead dog, Fonzie.

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Comments
I'm a 100% rescue man myself. When my rescued PIt Bull, Demo was younger, and amazed me daily with his joi de vive and seemingly 'one of a kind' personality, I have to admit I was a bit bummed that he was fixxed. I thought, I'll never find another dog like this again! I sometimes would fantasize that he could be cloned ? always in the back of my head thinking, I was being idiotic. I can now say I was being idiotic. Three years ago I rescued another Pit Bull off the streets of Brooklyn that (and don't tell Demo, I stated this) is just as engaging and incredible a dog as Demo. He has none of Demo's DNA but he demonstrates every bit the joi de vive that rescued dogs ? and in my opinion ? PIt Bulls have in spades.
Posted By jon
on Feb 26, 2008
I agree about honoring your dog by adopting another one. You're not going to bring your dog back by cloning it. All you will do is take away another needed home for a shelter pit about to be put down. There are too many out there on death row not to take this into consideration. My Pit Bull Wallace came from a shelter and now we're are one of the best disc dog teams on the planet. Go shelter Pit Bulls!!
Posted By Roo
on Feb 26, 2008
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