Pair Pay £100k To Clone Dead Pet

[waichingliu81]

25 mins ago
Sky News

A Florida couple has spent more than £100,000 on a clone of their deceased pet Labrador.

Lancelot Encore is a clone of Ed and Nina Otto's late dog Lancelot, who died of cancer in January 2008.

The Ottos, who could not bear life without their beloved dog, placed a £108,000 bid on a biotech firm's dog-cloning auction last July.

BioArts International created Lancelot Encore in South Korea, where he was born ten weeks ago.

The Ottos say he is the first single-birth, commercially-cloned puppy in the United States.

"This is Sir Lancelot, as he was, when he was nice and healthy," said Nina Otto, "probably around the time that we actually took his DNA and froze it.

"I know that to a lot of people spending that much money is ridiculous. I've heard some of my friends say 'On a dog?', but it wasn't just a dog. It was Lancelot."

The Ottos already have eight other dogs.

But with 12 acres of land they felt they had more than enough room for another pet.

"Think about how wonderful it is to be able to have your best friend back with you," Ed Otto said.

"We know he looks identical. We're hoping he has some of the same traits."

The couple met Lancelot Encore at the airport in Miami, and were obviously delighted with the result of the cloning process.

"He's back with me," said Nina, "in terms of the essence of him, as much as you could probably expect to ever get back someone who died."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090128/...t-3fd0ae9.html

[Chocoholic]

Why couldn't they have just gone down to the shelter and picked out another dog? Sounds a lot cheaper.

[MrRetro_08]

What a waste of money in my opinion.

[phoebe7165]

Originally Posted by ChesneyLady

Why couldn't they have just gone down to the shelter and picked out another dog? Sounds a lot cheaper.

I totally agree!! Or at least donated that money to animal charities.

I know we pet lovers wish our pets would live forever, and it is very difficult when they pass away, but I just don't see spending that much money to clone your dog. Not to mention, the cloned dog probably won't have the same personality as the original.

[Mikado]

More money, than sense yup yup!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by phoebe7165

I totally agree!! Or at least donated that money to animal charities.

I know we pet lovers wish our pets would live forever, and it is very difficult when they pass away, but I just don't see spending that much money to clone your dog. Not to mention, the cloned dog probably won't have the same personality as the original.