John Woestendiek: "Dog,Inc"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-05/john-woestendiek-doginc
What started with a sheep named Dolly became possible for dogs in 2005. That’s when South Korean scientists produced an afghan hound named Snuppy, the world’s first canine clone. But even before the technolgy was successful, an American company, predicting vast profits in pet cloning, was promoting and marketing pet cell banks with the promise of someday bringing customers' diseased pets back. An investigative reporter describes the unusual world of animal cloning from the very beginning. We learn about the scientists, eccentric businessmen and obsession with pets that has blurred the lines of ethics.
Guests
John Woestendiek
Pulitzer-Prize-winning investigative reporter and author of the "ohmidog!" blog.
Comments
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Well, I obviously haven't heard the program yet, but I would clone my dog. In fact, I kept some fur (DNA) in case it becomes possible. Yes, I could get another dog, but that totally misses the point. These are not mere animals that we pet once a day, but really extensions of our family. While cloning people is a creepy, bringing my favorite pet back would be incredible. Obviously, this would be a "new" animal - a puppy. The entire journey of training this animal would begin anew. In essence, it really is a new dog.
Whether pets or people, a clone is essentially a twin, and also an individual.
I'm sure many people will think of special pets they've known, and I think genetics typically play a good part.
There's practical potential too. Without getting into mass manufacturing, choice breeding stock could be expanded or resurrected. The most gifted assistance companions could be much more available...
Hanging out with gray wolves 15000+ years ago and we suddenly have poodles. but I do hope we're not swarmed with them. ;)
This American Life had a show about a guy who cloned a beloved Bull. The clone was different and almost killed him.
Twins are different from each other, sometimes very different. We would not be truly loving one if we treated it like it was the other and also expected the twin to be the same. Oh foolish Man.
Hello Diane,
There are so, so many naturally born animals that need homes and never get them...do we really need to "create" more pets that may never experience the love of an owner? These are living creatures that deserve more than to be turned into a business. I find it terribly selfish and horribly sad. When will we learn limitations?
How sad we even want to clone dogs. I think having the companionship of many dogs, each with their own unique character and personality, throughout our lives adds dimension to our lives. Plus, I agree with the other poster that with so many good dogs being euthanized at shelters, it's a shame we are going to such great lengths to create more of them.
I find this very disturbing. adopt a homeless dog who needs a home. if you really believe your dog was so special because of who he was, you should know that the essence of who that dog was can't be cloned.
It is horrible for me to think about dogs being created for lab research. They provide us with so much love and companionship and this is how we repay them.
With so many dogs and cats living in shelters and in need of good homes and very capable of being wonderful pets, why would anyone want to create more animals by cloning? Why not provide a home to an animal who needs a home, especially when many shelters are forced to euthanize dogs and cats when they cannot find homes for them?
doesn't it seem that this whole need to clone shows a fear of natural processes? Death is natural and change comes with that. Whose to say that a person wouldn't have an even better experience with another animal if they would give natural processes a chance.
I have an 8 year old cat, Jake, who was trapped as a feral kitten. We call him "the clone" because he is the nephew of my 18 year old cat Tadalique, and he looks so much like him. Tadalique isn't well, and I expect to lose him in the next few weeks. When Tadalique is gone, I won't grieve any less, or miss him any less, even though I have his "clone." They are two different cats, with different experiences and relationships, even though they share the same DNA and look almost the same. I will miss Tadalique so much.
As President of a small Pit Bull rescue in Baltimore I am always disturbed to think of people spending thousands of dollars in a vain attempt to duplicate a beloved animal who has died when there are literally thousands of wonderful animals being killed in shelters every day because there are too many homeless animals and not enough good homes for them. I understand how wrenching the loss of our animal companions is - they touch the deepest and most spiritual part of us and we are filled with grief when we lose them. But the dead cannot be brought back to life and out there waiting for all of us are many souls in need - often abused, neglected, waiting desperately for a better life whom we can help by providing a loving home.
My thanks to the author for adopting from BARCS -it's always a joy to hear of a shelter dog now in a caring home.
Couldn't agree more.
The notion of cloning a pet reflects our human (and uber American) propensity to always want "more". Why not enjoy the pet, the moment, the experience. the present (the whatever) and hold the treasured memory as special and unique?
I'd rather hear an hour devoted to the importance of adopting cats and dogs from shelters. This is ridiculous! No one loves dogs more than I and I miss every one of my unique and wonderful companions after they've lived out their natural lives but I would never consider cloning! It's actually disrespectful to think you could copy your pet. I have a hard enough time understanding why people insist on buying dogs from breeders but this is beyond!
You said it best artgirl. I am 100% with you. True animal lovers who understand and respect animals would never consider such a horror.
Sad....why clone a dog when so many are awaiting a home in shelters.
Thank you- I am so offended by this! And I've noticed that, so far, no one is discussing the negatives on this.
What about all of the dogs that already exist and are in need of homes? Why create more pets when there are so many that are suffering as a result of being left homeless?
I am a dog lover who has owned dogs all of my adult life. I find the idea of cloning a dog almost as creepy as cloning a child. The great tragedy of dogs is that we outlive them, but at the same time, each dog I have owned has been beautifully unique and uniquely loved. One of the joys of having dogs is the experience of living with these different and special beings. To try and recreate the spirit of an individual dog is not only futile, but ultimately would rob us of the joy of knowing and loving other special canines.
It is reassuring to see so many commenters make essentially the same point, but in such diverse ways: too many animals are living on the streets, held in shelters, or euthanized.
What a difference in worldview and values! On the one hand, people who pay $100K or more to reverse a natural process (death of a pet) that affected no one directly but themselves.
On the other hand, people who give all the support they can to correct an unnatural process (euthanasia in pet shelters) that does not affect them directly in any way.
There's a show for you, Diane. What is the predictable outcome for a culture that refuses to learn from natural processes? What will "morality" eventually mean in a culture that focuses on personal desires, rather than social needs?
We spent so long in the "molecular biology age" of science- the common person still thinks an individual is nothing more than their DNA. This is like saying a recording of a symphony is nothing more than the sheet music! Spend the 100K on therapy to learn how to accept the brief and brilliant life we share with someone and move on. Your next dog might be even better than the old one! You aren't the same owner you used to be either.
I am a long time dog lover and also a volunteer at my local animal shelter; without sounding fanatical; how can ANYONE justify cloning an companion animal with the volume of animals euthanized on an HOURLY basis in this country............in my humble opinion there is absolutely NO justification. Our local shelters are FULL of wonderful companion animals that have the capacity to love and be loved despite the horriffic conditions that they may have endured. Please consider ADOPTION before cloning or purchasing a purebred animal, PLEASE.
I can't agree more that adoption needs more focus, with all the animals euthanized without homes (and it's many).
To be clear I was writing academically about cloning and some specific uses - not unsuccessful cloning or expensive vanity cloning etc. Anyway, Wikipedia's pretty informative on the subject.
All of my pets were adopted/rescued, I couldn't justify any other way, but they were also great pets, and I recommend it to anyone.
As David Letterman would say, "This is why other countries hate us."
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