Well recently a couple spent $155k to clone their deceased Labrador Retriever. They entered a contest last June, where you had to bid to clone your dog. Wow. The DNA they had saved from their deceased dog was put into an egg and implanted in another dog, and then born. This of course was done in Korea, not the USA.
The couple Edgar and Nina Otto, say the dog is just liked their beloved Lancelot. He runs the house, is bonded to them and the other pets, and is just wonderful. Amazing.
How’d they afford it in this economy? Edgar’s dad created NASCAR. $155k I am guessing is chump change. Plus Edgar started a successful medical devices company. So they are likely not hurting at all. But $155k is a lot of money to pay for one dog. Luckily the Ottos donate a lot to the local human shelter and have promised if they adopt an 11th dog (yeah that’s a lot), it’ll be from the pound.
So would I do it? I would love to have a clone of our #1 Bichon. He’s an angel. Truly the best dog. But would I do it? I don’t know. I’m not sure. I certainly couldn’t afford even thinking about it.
11 responses so far ↓
1 One Frugal Girl // Feb 1, 2009 at 9:37 am
I would totally pay to clone my cat if I could. He is the sweetest, friendlist animal I’ve ever encountered. He’s more like a dog than a cat, he follows us around, comes looking for attention (unlike most cats who keep to themselves) and sleeps at the end of our bed. I would definitely clone him if I could. He is the greatest gift my husband has ever given to me.
2 Fabulously Broke // Feb 1, 2009 at 10:30 am
Can I clone myself? So that the other one works and I stay at home?
Just kidding. But I do know how pets affect people in their lives, and I think hey.. if they have the money, why not? It’s chump change for them.
I wouldn’t do it. But then again, I’m allergic to animals.
Fabulously Broke in the City
“Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.“
3 Miss M @ M is for Money // Feb 1, 2009 at 10:43 am
At first I figured you meant $155k in vet expenses! At the rate I’m going my three are going to cost that over their lives. I love my boys, but I couldn’t see cloning them. For one their environment shapes their personality, two of mine are shelter dogs with an unknown past. They wouldn’t be the same raised from puppies, though that might be a good thing, they are both a bit crazy.
4 D // Feb 1, 2009 at 10:47 am
I personally get disgusted with stories like that one. I love animalsn and truly miss my dog of 15 years, but come on! There are people strarving and we are spending $150 thousand on cloning a dog. Just think how many water wells $150 thousand could build in Sudan where people don’t even had decent drinking water. Or the fact that amount could build two houses in Louisiana where people are still homeless.
I would be ashamed to be known as a person who spent that amount of money on cloning a pet.
5 JusFrugal // Feb 1, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I think spending that kind of money is absolutely ridiculous to clone a pet, but that is from the perspective of someone who makes about a fourth of that per year. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about cloning a pet even, I just don’t see how it can ever be the same, and there are tons of pets out there who need families to care for them as it is
6 Kristy @ Master Your Card // Feb 2, 2009 at 12:33 am
Well, I’m not sure I like the idea of cloning, it seems to me we’re playing God when we shouldn’t be – pardon me for those who do not believe in God – so I don’t think I’d clone my pets. That said, I certainly wouldn’t spend $155k to do it, whether it was chump change or not. There are better uses for that money. But, as it is their personal choice, I don’t begrudge them that. I just wouldn’t do it.
8 LAL // Feb 2, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I can understand wanting the same dog, but I too am unsure about cloning.
But it’s up to them how they spend their money, they are rich enough to afford anything.
9 sara l // Feb 10, 2009 at 10:04 am
When my husband and I saw this I started yelling at the TV. Even if it is chump change to them the number of children going hungry in the US makes it seem like a waste to me. And if kids aren’t your thing shelters across the country are struggling to take care of abandoned dogs.
So I wouldn’t pay $155K to clone a pet.
10 LivingAlmostLarge // Feb 10, 2009 at 5:11 pm
It is any different from buying a luxurious home with 15 bedrooms or a live in maid? Why is it wrong to clone a dog but not wrong to drive a Bentley? Or eat out at 4 star restaurants?
Shouldn’t the rich then be allowed to spend money on what they want?
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