Should You Clone Your Pet?

Cloning has been largely a concept of science fiction for past decades, but in recent years, science has seen a great deal of success in this venture.  We’ve seen sheep, pigs, monkeys, cats and even a dog cloned in the last decade. 

Of course this has raised many debates, and while the process is largely limited to animals at present, it begs the question of whether it might be a good idea to clone a beloved pet.  There is no doubt that a pet is a member of the family in many households, but is this really the way to avoid having to say goodbye when your pet gets older?

The answer to this is certainly no.  A clone of your pet would certainly look just like your beloved friend, but it would not have the same personality.  In fact, it would not act like your pet at all, begging the question of who would spend many thousands of dollars to create such a pet.

There are also many health issues concerning cloning.  Another thing to consider is that in a world where thousands of innocent animals are put to sleep every day, cloning your pet would truly create an ethical dilemma.  If you were to adopt a pet shelter animal, you could save a life instead of adding another pet to the world.

We love our animals, and the notion of living without a cherished pet is certainly one that is heartbreaking for virtually any animal lover.  Unfortunately, even if the ability to clone your pet were both available and affordable, it would never serve to replace your companion. 

Ultimately, the best thing we can do is to love our pets while they are here and remember them fondly when they are gone.