As I write this, I am gazing down at my “best man,” my little poodle named Max. We have had a tough day. He had his teeth cleaned and one pulled. They put him under anesthesia to do it and he’s a bit groggy. It is definitely in his best interest, and in mine in the long run, although I had one hell of a day, waiting. I knew he would be okay and I love my doggie doctor, but I’d rather have half a dozen of my teeth pulled than think about him in any pain. Such I’ve become.
I love my puppies. I’ve become the guy I used to laugh at. I go out in my football parka in the rain with my little white poodle and little black Yorkiepoo, both with their raincoats on. Although I love my family with all my heart, the kind of love and devotion many of us humans get from our little canine friends is just something wonderfully different. Their dependence on you, makes you very dependent on them. One of my sons says, “Dad you love Max and CoCo more than you love your four human children.” I always look at him with a smile and say, “What’s your point?” Bottom line: I love my puppies and I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to them or they got sick or… or… or went to their maker. I often say, I don’t know what will happen if they go before I do. I try to keep it in perspective, but……
So to the point: I heard about dog cloning a while back and put it in the back of my mind. But recently, I came across a story about a country singer who wants his best friend cloned. I can’t remember the singer’s name, sorry, but his love for his puppy does have my attention. I need to figure out if dog cloning makes sense. Enter into the equation the story of Nina and Edgar Otto and their golden lab, Lancelot. Nina says, “There was always that look in his eyes, so human. He was my best friend, my Prince Charming, and my constant companion. The actual thought that he was going to be gone, I couldn’t live with.” Edgar says, “We didn’t expect him to die. He was much too young.” When Lancelot got cancer, they saved DNA and put in the winning bid to a South Korean company of $155,000. They now have a cloned puppy that looks exactly like Lancelot. So here we are. Procedures are being done. That same company charges about $100,000 for us consumers.
Those who say cloning is not a good idea say there are thousands and thousands of dogs that need homes, and most of them can become wonderful companions. There is also the consideration that you won’t be getting the same puppy if you clone. They are socialized from birth and by sixteen weeks, they have much of their personality. We adopted our second puppy at a year and a half. Does it make sense we would get the same wildly wonderful, technicolor dog. Our first came from a litter of three and had been on his way to be the wonderful gentle soul he is when he made our home his.
They are five years and four, so hopefully I have time to figure it out. Would we be able to bring them back, or just have puppies that look like them?
Our ties with our “little people” are amazing. When Max looks into my eyes he sees into my soul and I see into his. Losing either of them would/will be devastating. The temptation to try to bring them back is enormous, but does it make sense?
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