The $155,000 Puppy
We’ve barked up this tree before: how much is too much to spend on your pet?
$8,000 for kitty’s kidney transplant?
$12,000 for doggy’s dialysis?
$155,000 to clone a dead Labrador named Lancelot?
Sir Lancelot was a yellow Lab that loved bagels, pillows, and shoes. His death last year from skin cancer “devastated” his owners, Ed and Nina Otto. “He was a human dog,” Mr. Otto lamented. “He read your emotions.”
Years before Lancelot got sick, the Otto’s froze and banked his DNA. Last summer, they turned it over to a company that auctioned off the chance to clone a pet. The Otto’s winning bid: $155,000
In January, the Otto’s new puppy—a 10-week-old yellow Lab named Lancelot Encore— flew from South Korea, where he was cloned, to South Florida, where the Otto’s live on 12 acres with nine other pet dogs and various cats, birds, and sheep.
When the clone arrived, so did the criticism: that designing a pet was an irresponsible use of technology, especially when U.S. shelters euthanize millions of unwanted pets each year; and that Lancelot cost a lot.
“For $155,000, we could do spays and neuters for six months,” said the head of a local Florida animal services department. The Otto’s, however, have been steady donors to the Humane Society in Palm Beach County, giving $300,000 in the last three years—double the cost of the clone.
But the Humane Society calls cloning “disreputable” and says “cloning cannot replicate an animal’s uniqueness. Cloning can only replicate a pet’s genetics, which influence but do not determine his physical attributes or personality.”
Nina Otto disagrees. “I think he’s Sir Lancelot,” she said of Lancelot Encore. “I know there are a lot of people in this world who think this is an unfair thing to do. I don’t.”
“Think about this,” said Ed Otto. “You could have your favorite dog with you your entire life. I don’t think that’s too far-fetched.”
Tell us what you think: Is paying $155,000 to clone a dead pet responsible, irresponsible, or something else? If you have money, does it matter how you spend it?
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I support their choice
My beautiful German Shepherd is becoming paralyzed in her back legs. Her hips were perfect but we got the news that the myelin sheath surrounding her spinal cord is degenerating. There is no treatment or miraculous cure. Watching her walking tears my heart out. Knowing the kindest thing we can do is put her down but she is alert, happy, and the same sweet dog she has been for 11 years, how can I look in her eyes and see the trust and love looking back at me.. If I was wealthy and could be assured the clone would not get the same thing, I would do it in a minute. Many wonder why anyone would do such a thing. Our pets are like our children—our other dog has Addison’s Disease and we have struggled to pay well over $200.00 a month for her medication for the past seven years. Fortunately, I can give the injections which saves the office visit.
Support these folks, they loved their “kid” too and since they could afford to have her cloned…I find it wonderful they did.
Patty Weissenfels | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Privacy Rights
People should do what they want with their money. If it meant that much to them, of course they had every right to clone the dog. People who complain that it was irresponsible to spend $155,000 to clone their pet should just look around their own abodes and see all of the things they bought that were equally unnecessary before criticizing this family who cloned their pet. Most people have multiple television sets, cable or digital TV, all sorts of interesting gadgets and game systems, and considerably more than one change of clothes and shoes. Get rid of your own luxuries before criticizing others for spending their own money on what you consider unnecessary expenditures. Besides, it is not your business.
Mary Neal | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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United States
As a social entrepreneur who focuses on issues of ethics and civility, I am concerned about this story in a number of ways.
Although I am glad to hear that the couple has given money to better the lives of animals, this still seems not the best choice to me. Yes, it is their right, but just because one has the right to do something and the means, does not mean that choosing to act on that right is the most scrupulous thing to do. I can think of 100 ways that $155,000 could have been put to better use to improve the life of an already exisiting life form be it human or otherwise.
That aside, I’m concerned about what this means in relation to emotional growth. One of the lessons we may reap from death is the emotional growth that occurs as we deal with it. When a loved one or even a relationship dies, we do learn to love again and often in a completely different way that reflects our maturity through having weathered difficult situations. If we can simply repeat an experience or, in this case, a much beloved pet. How much will we have grown through experiencing loss when the loss is temporary. How are we to experience loving Rover who could be our next pet, when we can just have Fido over and over again?
Being able to reconstitute a pet falls in line with another typically American character flaw – that of instant gratification. Americans used to take pride in our strength of character, now it seems it is as flabby as our bellies.
Gay Pinder | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Doggy Cloning
First, I am not sure how I feel about cloning a living being under any circumstances. While I can see the value in certain circumstances, it’s still a little too Sci-Fi Channel for me. More importantly, I worry about the ethical issues that surround cloning. How, when, and why will it be employed and if you can pay for it, do you automatically have a right to go down that road? This gets to the heart of this story. I am a pet owner and yes I’ve known the sadness of losing beloved pet. However, there are so many wonderful animals waiting for homes even as I write this. Can they replace a pet you’ve lost? No, and I’m not suggesting that. However, they can come in and occupy a new space in your heart and in your home. Cloning a dead pet is unnecessary and not the most responsible way to spend six figures.
Holli | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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21st-Century Taxidermy
There are already too many dogs in shelters that need to be rescued. Besides, you cannot clone experience, memories and trust that the preexisting dog developed over time. They should have named the dog Dorian Gray.
Matt R. | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Mrs.
I think it has been said already but why attack these people who have been so generous to other animals! What about “celebrities” like Jay Leno and Wayne Newton who have dozens of vintage cars worth millions gathering dust in their garages. Most obscene in my mind is Wayne Newton’s home with crystal columns leading up the staircase, crystal, solid Czech crystal. The Donald’s current wife wore a million dollar wedding dress for half an hour. The more I think about it’ g ood for the Ottos if that’s what they wanted. I do hope they won’t be disappointed. Why not also adopt a homeless puppy as a companion for the new Lab. And what about women in food stamp lines with those expensive acrylic nails, it’s the principle, isn’t it.
Julie Conner | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Canine Massage Practitioner
Relationships between human and animal are unique to every family. All I have to say is our pets will live longer and happier lives if we are proactive (versus reactive) concerning their wellness.
For instance; our animal companions do not need vaccinations every year (if they need any all…matter of opinion), and read the label on your pet’s food.
There are a few good web sites that inform people of natural and holistic pet care, which is more likely to ensure happier and healthier (therefore less stressful for everyone involved) lives of our pets…which may help us to make more sound / logical decisions based on feeling / knowledge that we did they best for our animal companion(s)…no regrets and no guilt.
Theresa V. Pesc | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Big Bucks
How would any of you like it, if your business was posted all over the world? And it was said, Money can’t buy happiness??
Bayha hatley | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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The Soul of a Pet
While I can certainly understand the desire to have that loving pet throughout one’s life, when I look into the eyes of my beloved “furry children” I know they are unique creations with individual souls. Cloning a pet may bring back the resemblance of the pet that’s died, but the soul will not be the same, and therefore the pet is not. I think cloning is a denial of the finality of death. Letting go is a very hard thing to do, but as others have said, there are many more special animals out there that need a home too. I will miss my special four-legged children as long as I live, but I am able to give a loving home to other dear cats and dogs, and that is a gift for us all.
The Rev. | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Jealous?
Jealous because you can’t spend $150,000+ on anything you want? Even if these people never donated a dime to anyone or anything, it’s none of our business how they spend their money. I’m sure they understand this is not the same dog; but its close enough for them. Genetically, he’s the same and if he’s treated the same way they treated the original, he’s be really close. They’re not hurting anyone.
A. White | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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