Vetcetera Korean clones and the case of the five Boogers

You’ve heard about the five Boogers right? No, it’s not the opening line of a coarse joke. I found it in this week’s dog news:

There are now five Booger’s because Booger #1 was the pit bull who saved her mama’s life and consequently sent this owner scrambling, post-mortem DNA sample in hand, to South Korea for a chance at the litter of her dreams: Five Booger clones!

God help me if I know why people do these things but I guess I can’t really blame them. I, too, understand the deep and abiding love we humans can have for a very particular animal. Though I’ll never admit to it completely, I can sometimes comprehend the desire to “bring back” one or two incredible animals among the throngs I’ve loved—even if it’s just a re-boot off their molecular blueprints.

But five? I bet she feels like one of those “unlucky” embryo transfer moms whose womb proves more fertile than she ever expected.

That’s presumably why the Boogers’ owner is keeping some pups and donating a couple to service dog organizations.

Meanwhile, it’s clear the Korean cloners are happy to have this kind of income streaming in. $50,000 for the five Boogers! And why not? If US dog lovers continue to finance their cloning efforts it won’t be long before they’re the cloning powerhouse of the world (oops…I guess they already are).

But there’s a hitch. Clones don’t always come off 100% right. Diminished lifespan is only part of the problem. Could it be those base pairs don’t always zip up just right?

With that in mind, perhaps the service dog organizations so well-intentionally bequested should be taking a long, jaundiced look at these gift-puppies’ mouths.

August 8th, 2008

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The picture above is of the foster mama for the five pitbulls pictured. Here's the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_sc/skore...

Dr. Patty Khuly August 8th, 2008 08:08:00 AM

I don't find it morally objectionable, I find it an obscenely self serving way to spend money when there are so many doing without, but in comparison to the ridiculous spending and behavior of movie, pop stars and "athletes" I suppose a faithful companion is better than a gucci bag..or a diamond necklace that says F&*^..as far as what to spend your money on.
From the science point of view, I think it is irresponsible to commercially offer a product that isn't perfected yet...oh way the pharmaceuticals in this country do it all the time...okay..so what really makes this any different than anything else....a way to prey on vulnerable people's emotions while bilking them out of their money....big surprise.

LorriM August 8th, 2008 08:39:00 AM

A fact that I found interesting. The original Booger actually died of cancer, so now this woman has created 5 puppies with a tendancy towards a deadly disease which killed their 'oringinal' prematurely.

Shannon August 8th, 2008 08:55:00 AM

I posted about this too. I wondered about how these pups would compare in personality to the original Booger. Sure - you can clone the looks, but the personalities have to be different. Is that true? (I am NO scientist, so I have no idea!)

I'm afraid that this woman has paid so much money to get five look alike dogs, but none of them will ever live up to her expectations of Booger. I hope she can love them for them, and not compare them to Booger constantly!

I couldn't spend that kind of money on something like this. I LOVE my kitties, but I know I'd find other kitties to love if/when the ones I have now move on!

Tammy August 8th, 2008 10:59:00 AM

I'm with Lori on this one.. and what is worse is this woman sold her home to get the funds to do it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26073110/

Also think she's a little soft in the head.. she sold her home, had someone clone these dogs, and now she says God gave them to her??

"Owner calls clones of her beloved dog ‘a miracle’
She says God ‘knew I would be lost without him, so he sent me some more’"

Connie August 8th, 2008 11:30:00 AM

"Also think she's a little soft in the head"

That may be an understatement. Great link over at Pet Connection showing how crazy she really might be...
http://tinyurl.com/5cyby8

Shannon Watts August 8th, 2008 11:41:00 AM

In this case - cloning equals irresponsible breeding. Give me five minutes and I am sure I can locate five beautiful pit puppies in need of homes.

cbrrescuemom August 8th, 2008 12:48:00 PM

"I don't find it morally objectionable, I find it an obscenely self serving way to spend money when there are so many doing without,"

I find it ironic that the same thing can be heard coming from our family members, friends etc when we spend thousands of dollars on vet care for our pets. Then we, as pet lovers we say, "Bah, it's our money and we will do with as we please. It's none of your business."

From a purely monetary stance, she can do with as she pleases IMO and is accountable to no one for the expenditure. How one spends their money is none of my business. OTOH, morally it's not as clear cut.

Heather August 8th, 2008 12:57:00 PM

Shannon: Great link! "Barking mad" is more like it... Will truth never cease to be stranger than fiction?--that is, if it IS true.

Dr. Patty Khuly August 8th, 2008 01:52:00 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1042506/...

This makes it all so much more interesting! Juicy and bizarre!

Victoria August 8th, 2008 02:45:00 PM

Am I the only one wondering what the ultimate fate of the two suorrogate dogs will be? If she just wants the Booger redux puppies will she keep or just discard the Moms? Funny how journalists never ask about things like that.

p.s. the real price tag is $150,000, the knocked it down after the publicity.

emily August 8th, 2008 02:54:00 PM

A part of people's stated concerns is the cost. What if, over time, the cost came down? What if, in 10 or 15 years it cost $5000 to $10,000 to clone an pet? And let's say many of the health risks have been resolved. Would you do it?

lin August 8th, 2008 06:41:00 PM

lin: I honestly think it would give me the creeps. Akin to having my dog freeze-dried after death (which some people do):
http://www.dolittler.com/index.cfm/2007/9/11/pets....

Dr. Patty Khuly August 9th, 2008 07:52:00 AM

I think it's pretty creepy.

Unfortunately, there are PLENTY of skeevy service dog orgs who WILL take those pups and their notoriety as 'poster children' to solicit donations with. UGH.

Cait August 9th, 2008 12:20:00 PM

After reading the steamy, seedy side of the story---it is almost difficult to view the seriousness of the topic. The implications and future of cloning are scary to me.

Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire August 9th, 2008 07:02:00 PM

For me it isn't cloning that is scary per se. Cloning will just make a dog (cat, aardvark etc) which will be genetically like the donor.

People, on the other hand, freak me out.

emily August 11th, 2008 09:33:00 AM

I read in either the NY POST or DAILY NEWS, which one I am not certain, as I read them both, that this woman was more than just"soft" in the head. The dog that she cloned was apparently going to be put down at a shelter for mauling two joggers. She somehow stole the dog from the shelter and kept him/her as her own. These fact are just now surfacing. She was also wanted for stalking ann ex-boyfriend. Apparently she has had more than one run-in with the law. As far as cloning is concerned...I understand the immeasurable love one has for a pet and the desire to be with him/her physically upon its death. However, this is not reality. Death is a part of life. No one thought of the consequences of duplicating a dog with vicious tendencies. Now instead of one, there are five. Lets hope they did not inherent the temperment.

Dana Marcus August 11th, 2008 02:47:00 PM

This woman is a terrifying character. I'm concerned about the future of the dogs she is keeping. Really scary stuff.

Personally, I am against cloning. There are too many things that we just don't know about it yet.

Jen M. August 13th, 2008 03:35:00 PM

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