They’ve actually gone and done it! A company called ViaGen Pets announced yesterday that they delivered the first American-born cloned puppy—a Jack Russell Terrier named Nubia.
Evidently, ViaGen has been offering cloning services for livestock for over ten years. You may recall the announcement of the first cloned animal, Dolly the sheep twenty years ago.
According to the report, ViaGen Pets has also produced cloned kittens for clients. Can you
imagine? Evidently, the leaders in this company see a shift in the way end-of-life issues for pets are handled in the future. Veterinarians will have the option of informing clients about cloning as an option to soften the impact of their loss. One veterinarian says she’s seen cloned dogs as patients and that the owners are extremely happy with their decisions.
As the ViaGen representative explains, “A cloned puppy or kitten is simply a genetic twin born at a later date and should share many of the original’s attributes, including intelligence, temperament and appearance.” The cost to have your dog cloned is $50,000 and $25,000 for a cat. (The cats seen here are cloned.)
Meet more of the animals this company has cloned over the years. https://www.viagen.com
