Couple Pay $155,000 for First Commercially Cloned Dog

by Charlotte Cardingham
46
Published on 28 January 2009
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Couple Pay $155,000 for First Commercially Cloned Dog

Labrador puppy Lancelot Encore is an exact genetic replica of his owner's previous pet.

A couple from Boca Raton, Florida, have this week welcomed the first commercially cloned dog into their home – at the eye-watering cost of $155,000.

Lancelot Encore, or ‘Lancey’ as he, and his predecessor are fondly known, is a 10 week old yellow Labrador puppy and an exact genetic replica of Nina and Edgar Otto’s old dog, ‘Sir Lancelot’.

The couple won the chance to clone their family dog at auction in July last year, seven months after losing ‘Lancey’ mark one to cancer. Amazingly the couple had the foresight to store samples of Sir Lancelot’s DNA five years ago in the hope that cloning technology would one day be readily available to those willing to pay.

"We can't believe this day is finally here," said Mrs Otto to the press, "We are so happy to have little Lancey in our family. His predecessor was a very special dog. We are thrilled beyond words!"

After being ‘created’ in South Korea by biotech company BioArts International and weaned by a surrogate mother, Lancelot Encore was delivered personally to the Ottos at Miami International Airport by BioArts Chairman, Lou Hawthorne, on Monday evening.

"This is a very special milestone for our company – and great fun for me too," Hawthorne said.

”One minute with Lancey and you know he's special. He's both extremely aware and very sweet. The Ottos are the first of six current clients to receive their clone. The next 6 months will be very exciting both for our clients and our staff."

Lancelot Encore is believed to be the first single-born, commercially cloned puppy in the States. Yet, while the Ottos are undoubtedly delighted with their new pup, his creation has sparked huge controversy, not least because of all the puppies sitting unwanted in dog shelters across the States.

However, so as to make amends, Nina and Edgar, who reportedly already have 9 dogs, 10 cats, 6 sheep and 4 parrots, also plan to adopt a dog from a shelter too.

Source

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Comments (46)

ali
thats crazy
15 Mar 2009 13:50
 
Nadia Benting
Thats really cute!
26 Feb 2009 18:04
 
Doug
Thats dumb
14 Feb 2009 21:30
 
Randy
this is the reason the rest of the world hates us, you spent $155,000 dollars on a dog that is genetically the same as your old dog. this means to you that it looks the same and will have the same illnesses, the personality will be completely different. bottom line, you should have adopted a dog of the same breed and donated the $154,950 you had left over to the animal shelter. cloning is a area of science that has no business with family pets.
11 Feb 2009 19:23
 
Brian
Yea, and while we're at it let's shut down the internet to save public libraries. You people are focusing on one pup and the money.
11 Feb 2009 07:22
 
Unknown
And our acconomy is in bad shape huh? Some idiots who have more money than brains pays almost 200K for a DOG??? There are people loosing their jobs and houses who would kill to just have that much money to blow....what a bunch of idiots.
6 Feb 2009 04:26
 
Marshall Yin
It is absolutely disgusting! They expect to love a replica of a pass dog but fore go seeing the opportunity of adoption!
5 Feb 2009 06:26
 
Jay Schyler Raadt
This is a major step forward for the human race. The only problem is Geroge W. Bush's ban on federal funding on stem cell research; let's get that $155,000 in American Scientists' hands!
5 Feb 2009 04:41
 
Paddy Mac
Hey Cathy, I'm sure the next step isn't humans, maybe chimps. Jk. Oh, and don't preach the playing God card unless you happen to have irrefutable proof of his existence, which, you don't. Not that I care, I'm a Christian, but that is not a viable argument, and likely never will be.
4 Feb 2009 08:04
 
Ion
coulda just donated the money for sick puppies or something
3 Feb 2009 16:03
 
Quentin Garaque
Cloning a dog... Interesting, but it is a serious sign of not being able to let go and sentimentality. Life is about living, growing, and usually dying. It is the sum of our experiences that makes us unique. This dog might be "Lancie" on the genetic level, however this dog is growing up in a different time, and will face different experiences then it's predecessor. That in and of itself makes it different. This type of action might be a nice thought for children who lost a childhood pet and are struggling through loss, but do we just make designer animals now? Forget about the natural animals, and make our own? Forget about the breeders? And why stop there? Let's clone 5 year old children who died in a car wreck. It wont be the same child, but as long as the physical being is there, then who cares? If you died, and someone cloned you, would it be you? Would you be aware of this new body? Likewise, this mentality is only interested in the body, not the spirit.
2 Feb 2009 06:10
 
Clara
Ditto to Bob (1-30-09 x2:24) And Kudoes to the Ottos!! They have a puppy that will be with them till death.
2 Feb 2009 02:34
 
jo
it is your money. do as you please.
1 Feb 2009 11:09
 
Captsam
I think it's great for the Ottos. I lost my pet of 17 years to cancer and if I had the money, I would have done the same thing. The love of a pet becomes part of the family.
1 Feb 2009 09:55
 
Shelly from Chicago
My sincere best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Otto. I have 4 Great Danes, 2 Shar-peis and 2 cats. No matter the cost. Our animals are worth every cent due to the enjoyment they bring in to our hearts and household. Every one of our pets has medical issues. However, the cost is not an issue, compared to the love and affection. We enjoy on a daily basis from our 4 legged family members. Lancey is worth every cent and then some. His human owners/companions are very special people.
1 Feb 2009 05:42
 
Linda Smith
Do they want to add a daughter? I would like them to adopt me!
1 Feb 2009 03:05
 
Joan seiwald
I can understand how these people loved their dog. I had a cat named "ziggz" whom I truly loved. His picture is all over my house. When he died, I cried a lot. But I didn't try to clone him, I just got new cats. Actually, I have more than I need. But -- we took one from ACC (Animal Care & Control in SF); she was on death's door and has been with us for 16 years. We have 3 ferals (our daughter volunteers at AC&C), a cat abandoned at a vet's and now one who wandered into our backyard, weighing 3 pounds. What could we do? Take her to the Vet and find out she would live and bring her home. I would stalk the shelters if I needed another cat; the selection is there.
1 Feb 2009 03:04
 
Joan seiwald
I can understand how these people loved their dog. I had a cat named "ziggz" whom I truly loved. His picture is all over my house. When he died, I cried a lot. But I didn't try to clone him, I just got new cats. Actually, I have more than I need. But -- we took one from ACC (Animal Care & Control in SF); she was on death's door and has been with us for 16 years. We have 3 ferals (our daughter volunteers at AC&C), a cat abandoned at a vet's and now one who wandered into our backyard, weighing 3 pounds. What could we do? Take her to the Vet and find out she would live and bring her home. I would stalk the shelters if I needed another cat; the selection is there.
1 Feb 2009 03:04
 
Amy
This is not playing god. This could potentially save millions of lives. Think of all the waiting lists for organs. However, this incredible technology shouldn't be used to close some rich couple's dog. The puppy may be physically identical to the dead dog, but it is not the "same" dog. They, just like us, develop unique personalities based on the experiences in their lives. Honestly, they should have adopted one from a shelter. That is a serious waste of money. Clones usually die early, anyhow.
1 Feb 2009 02:01
 
HinRSF
While I wish them joy & many happy years with the puppy - not even going into the issue of the millions of dogs who deserve loving homes or the state of the economy - I question the wisdom of duplicating anything - a car, a beloved pet, a spouse. It puts a huge pressure on the duplicate to be as superior as the original & nothing can do that! Due to life circumstances, this dog's reality will not be unique to the original dog & the way it reacts to it & the owners, who have had their own changes since the original dog passed away will be different. Part of having a beloved pet is getting to know & love its nuances.
1 Feb 2009 01:17
 
Just a thought...
The couple had to sell alot of stuff like jewlery to make this happen. You can't tell me that you had a pet when you were a kid and wouldn't give anything to have them back. That's just what is going on with this couple. You all know that you would give anything to have YOUR first pet back....
31 Jan 2009 12:04
 
Chris
Whats next? Clone animals that are becoming extinct and repopulate the world with synthetic nature?
30 Jan 2009 23:55
 
Jenny in NYC
How long before people start cloning their kids? Would you give up on a sick child if you knew you could just clone him or her? This is disturbing. I see the benefits of cloning for curing disease but not to completely replace an animal. I love my dogs but I can't imagine cloning them. I'd feel like I was telling my dogs they could be replaced. If love a look or temperament you can get the same breed and even from the same line. I don't know about this.
30 Jan 2009 18:34
 
Jack
Cathy wrote: "Does anyone realize the ramifications of something like this? We are not God and should not play God. Next we will mass produce people...think about that? More effort should be put into curing cancer and other diseases rather than cloning. Guess they think that if someone gets sick just let it happen - we can make another - like a car! So very sad!" Sounds like if it's not natural, it's "playing God." Hmmm. If you become seriously ill, are you not playing God by trying to cure it?
30 Jan 2009 17:43
 
kayla
cancer isn't hereditary. but, because the DNA is the exact same, there's a pretty good chance the new dog will get cancer too. That sucks.
30 Jan 2009 16:58
 
Anonymous
It's a Lab...get it!
30 Jan 2009 16:34
 
Peter W
For the person that said more money should be spent on curing cancer and other diseases: Cloning one day might help with that. Not cloning whole humans, per se. But cloning our own organs, people on 5 year lists for livers or kidneys or hearts might be able to live healthy long lives with cloned organs and never have to take anti-rejection pills. The religious zealout luddites out there willing to sacrifice the many to not offend the few. Just like Bush and his refusal to fund stem-cell research. Clumps of cells in this country have more rights than living human beings. Gotta love theocracies.
30 Jan 2009 12:27
 
millie
Ooh - just think of this! Is this the nightmare from hell or what? Woman who has no children, and HATES her mother, gets to CLONE her mother and RAISE her as her own child! Think of what a movie THAT would make! And the worst part is one day it could happen! Some sort of karmic reparenting! I shudder to think of a world like that! Creepy, huh?????
30 Jan 2009 12:02
 
Seth
While the process of cloning a pet I think is kind of sad, I think people are missing the point. By these people paying for a cloned animal ( which is their right by the way, it is their money), they are helping to support the extremely important field of genetic research. P.S. don't give me the "playing god" argument. We play god everyday when we save lives. If you don't want anyone to play god with you, fine. Sign a DNR and hope you never get into an accident. I've heard many sides of the arguments in this case, while I agree with the idea that there are already too many pets that need adoption, the one that kills me is the idea that humans should not create life. The majority of these people it seems, are those who are having their foundation shaken when they realize that life isn't that unique or mysterious, It is rather, a set of molecules that code for amino acids that make us who we are.
30 Jan 2009 10:52
 
Emily
Yea, let's pay 155,000 for another canceriffic dog!!
30 Jan 2009 04:15
 
LIL TOMBOI
COOL, I WISH I COULD'VE CLONED MY OLD DOG! :(
30 Jan 2009 04:02
 
sherrie
i think thats great, my husband and i just lost our yorkie 3 weeks ago, so hard to deal with his death, would give anything to have him back, you guys are so lucky, enjoy every waking min. with yur animal. we miss ours every min.of the day.
30 Jan 2009 02:55
 
Bob
It's their money and they are obviously people that really love animals. If everyone in the world were like them, there would be a lot of animals who would not be abused and have happy lives. I'm sure they treat their human friends with equal love and affection. Kudos to them. They obviously are serious, caring and loving people. If only the world had more people like them, we definitely would have a better world! I wish them good health and blessings. Bob
30 Jan 2009 02:24
 
Sir
LOL! Cancer is hereditary so good buy clone doggie!
29 Jan 2009 23:26
 
Perplexed
Bananas!
29 Jan 2009 17:43
 
Charlie B
I can not believe that people will pay that much money for a Dog.... a cloned dog...that may get.... cancer too, when it is many of dogs in shelters looking to be put in a home. Let's more on with are life's people..can't live in the past all your life. Will "Lancey" clone Nina and Edgar?
29 Jan 2009 17:42
 
FB
honestly... cloning should be saved for animals that can't be easily bred the ol-fashioned way.
29 Jan 2009 17:40
 
karenjzm
it is very sad that this lovely family can not except death, none of us want let to leg go of loved ones but has chosen his time we can not alter his plan, if we we could i would clone my son who passed away not long ago. bug i do hope this brings you happiness.
29 Jan 2009 17:06
 
pete
Good for the Ottos I love my bishons and would love to clone them too. God Bless and enjoy the puppy.
29 Jan 2009 16:47
 
Cathy
I totally agree! Does anyone realize the ramifications of something like this? We are not God and should not play God. Next we will mass produce people...think about that? More effort should be put into curing cancer and other diseases rather than cloning. Guess they think that if someone gets sick just let it happen - we can make another - like a car! So very sad!
29 Jan 2009 15:12
 
salty
this couple must have more money than Brains... but then rich ppl usually get what they want...
29 Jan 2009 14:52
 
Sunshyne318@aoll.com
My brother and sister in-law had a brown lab that was a very unique dog to,but they did not have that kind of money to clone him. It would have been nice My brother and sister in-law also have 2 horses, 2 steers,sometimes three to four dogs, and 2 cats.My niece lives behind them and has 2 cats and a dog.
29 Jan 2009 14:50
 
Virginia
The couple who alledgedly had a dog cloned and the purchases of that off spring are idiots. With so many people in the US out of jobs why don't they spend the money on food and help some desperate family with kids?
29 Jan 2009 14:04
 
Anomyous
Why in the world would you pay $155,000 for any animal? There are so many more better things do with that money that could make a difference in somone's life. Plus there are other dogs who may have waiting for a while to be adopted by a loving family. I just wonder if will it be worth it. I think it is big waste of money.
29 Jan 2009 13:19
 
Linda
The day that puppy was artifically created, there were thousands euthanized across this nation. Every human and animal is unique and when you start to copy them you loss that uniqueness.
29 Jan 2009 13:07
 
Kim
That's wise - another cancer dog.
28 Jan 2009 21:35
 

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