Pet cloning is now the controversial influencer fad

Did you know that pet cloning has become an increasingly discussed topic around the world?

I can bet that the vast majority of people reading this material have always imagined cloning as a topic very far from our reality, and that it is something that is only accessible in the world of fiction, such as films, soap operas and series.

But the truth is that the topic is more present in our society than we imagine!

Recently, cloning – which has always been a topic that has been accompanied by numerous controversies – has returned to the scientific spotlight for something very curious.

And it is exactly about this return and the reason that made cloning so discussed again that we created this content. 

Here, we will talk about how pet cloning reached influencers and the reasons why this resource is so controversial.

How does pet cloning work?

If you were born in the late 80s or early 90s, you probably remember Dolly the Sheep.

Taking the title of the first cloned animal in history, Dolly's case ended up becoming popular around the world in 1996. And of course, it also divided opinions.

While part of the population saw the project as a super advance in science, the more conservative interpreted the achievement as something that went against the laws of God and nature.

In any case, this was the first step in this area. And today, 26 years later, the topic has once again become the subject of controversy.

Much like in vitro fertilization as we know it, the eggs and embryos are created in petri dishes. After this procedure, they are transferred directly to the 'surrogate mother', where they will be raised until their birth.

Understand one of the cases that popularized pet cloning

We're talking about Courtney Udvar-Hazy. Courtney was the owner of Willow, a dog who was a hybrid between a dog and a wolf.

Until one day Willow ended up being run over and the worst happened: Willow ended up dying.

Devastated by the death of her partner, Courtney sought help from ViaGen – a company known for working in the field of animal cloning – to clone Willow.

The company complied with Courtney's request and the procedure was successful, resulting in 5 puppies identical to Willow.

Courtney ended up keeping one of the puppies – naming him Phoenix – and the others were given to some of Courtney's friends.

The thing is, like everything that is published and becomes popular on the internet, it attracts both positive and negative opinions. And with a topic as controversial as pet cloning, it could not be any different.

Courtney said during an interview that many people who learned about Willow's story and her cloning did not approve of the idea.

According to Courtney, every day, she receives dozens of offensive and derogatory messages about Phoenix and her relationship with her pet.

Courtney said people send her messages calling her crazy, saying what she did is wrong, that it goes against the laws of nature and that Phoenix is a zombie dog because of it.

The owner admits that receiving this flood of comments about her pet is not easy, but she has gotten used to it.

According to her, the situation was even worse at the beginning. This ended up causing her to stay away from social media for a period of time.

Why is this such a controversial topic? 

As you can see, Courtney's case has a very negative side. But, at the same time that Courtney and Phoenix's case attracts the attention of 'haters', it also attracts the admiration of fans. 

Courtney currently has a Instagram account where photos of Willow, Phoenix and other dogs of the same breed are posted and this account has more than 140 thousand followers.

In other words: a true success.

And in a way, it is this success that makes the controversy surrounding this resource only grow.

This is because several guardians of so-called “pet influencers” are resorting to this type of resource to continue earning money from animals even after their deaths.

What many people may see as positive – since it is a way of keeping their pet always present in some way – other people have opposing opinions, even accusing these influencers of being inhumane and only interested in the benefits and status that the existence of their famous pets provides them. 

And after several cases of owners who chose to clone their animals – and talk freely about it on their social networks – the subject has once again become a topic of discussion.

On one side, there are those who defend it and see no harm in it. On the other side, there are people who are against it and believe that it is wrong.

How much does pet cloning cost? 

Now that you understand a little more about this topic and all the controversy surrounding pet cloning, it's time to talk about values.

If, after learning more about the subject, you are interested in cloning pets, you should know that this type of resource is not cheap.

Companies responsible for this type of service are charging an average of US$$ 35 thousand to US$$ 50 thousand.

If we convert these amounts to reais, the value could be around R$ 190 thousand to R$ 270 thousand.

The price may vary depending on the animal the applicant wishes to clone.

In other words: up until now, this type of resource is something that is still very inaccessible to the vast majority of the population.

Conclusion

So, what side of this story are you on? Would you clone your pet?

The truth is that cloning itself is a very controversial subject. And mixing this topic with something as popular as social media only serves to further fuel the discussion.

And each one continues to defend their point of view.

Did you like this content? Then take the opportunity to read it too Anxiety in dogs in 6 symptoms: see what they are!