mufasa
Well-known Member
Cavy Gazer
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2012
- Posts
- 2,872
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2012
- Messages
- 2,872
This past week our local paper had the story of three families who cloned former pets. Apparently you can have it done overseas at a cost of $100,000 to $150,000.
As I read their gushing stories of, "He's so much like our old Rover!" I couldn't help but be disgusted. I'm sure Rover was a great dog, but millions of other dogs who are just as great die in shelters every year. Why not adopt one of them and start a spay/neuter fund or rescue in Rover's name with that $150,000 you just pissed away to bring another life into an already overpopulated world and to let another dog die?
Don't get me wrong, I know that it's like to have a "one of a kind" animal. I feel that way about my first horse, Cochise, and my cat, Vinnie. I love all my animals, but those two hold a special place in my heart. Would I clone them if I hit the lottery and had the chance? Absolutely not. First, it's NOT the same animal, no matter what people try to tell themselves, any more than identical twins are the same. Second, I believe in rescue, not breeding, and cloning is breeding (not to mention the failures in the process). Third, life is an adventure, and I know I have many more new animal friends poised to cross paths with me. They'll be waiting for me at a shelter or on the streets, not at a lab.
Sorry for the rant. I saw the article as I was lining Borat and Amy's play pen with newspaper this morning, and I just had to get that off my chest! Hopefully Amy will do a nice, big pee on the story.
As I read their gushing stories of, "He's so much like our old Rover!" I couldn't help but be disgusted. I'm sure Rover was a great dog, but millions of other dogs who are just as great die in shelters every year. Why not adopt one of them and start a spay/neuter fund or rescue in Rover's name with that $150,000 you just pissed away to bring another life into an already overpopulated world and to let another dog die?
Don't get me wrong, I know that it's like to have a "one of a kind" animal. I feel that way about my first horse, Cochise, and my cat, Vinnie. I love all my animals, but those two hold a special place in my heart. Would I clone them if I hit the lottery and had the chance? Absolutely not. First, it's NOT the same animal, no matter what people try to tell themselves, any more than identical twins are the same. Second, I believe in rescue, not breeding, and cloning is breeding (not to mention the failures in the process). Third, life is an adventure, and I know I have many more new animal friends poised to cross paths with me. They'll be waiting for me at a shelter or on the streets, not at a lab.
Sorry for the rant. I saw the article as I was lining Borat and Amy's play pen with newspaper this morning, and I just had to get that off my chest! Hopefully Amy will do a nice, big pee on the story.