There was an interesting aritcle in the Boregonian about cloning dogs and it really got me thinking about my own pooch "Salty dog" who is a bull dog.

SO here is my question to you. Lets say your precious pooch is in its golden years and ready to die. If someone came to you and said they would clone your dog free of charge, would you let them do it?
Now if your a dog owner you know that having your pet die is one of the worst most devistating things EVER! Why not Clone him so he can be around another 12-13 years????
I realize that this is a moral and ethical decision, and some critics would argue that this is very wrong, Playing "GOD" is wrong at all levels.

BUT I love my pooch so much and can't imagine life without him. He is like My own kid. If someone came to me and asked if they wanted to clone "Salty Dog" I would say "YES" in a heartbeat and I wouldn't think twice! My dog means too much to me.

Alright pet owners, think about your pooch. If he/she was dying and someone would clone your dog, free of charge, WOULD YOU DO IT???

Why or why not? and please explain your reason.

I have three cats, and I would not clone them. The two main reasons are:

1) There are a lot of cats and dogs who need homes, and I would rather help one of them.

2) The cloned pet will have the same physical characteristics as the original, but not the training and memories contained in the brain of the original. Getting a clone would be like getting a new kitten or puppy who just happens to look the same as the old cat or dog.

Not if you take them to "Re-Pet". You can get that loved family pet back just as you knew them!

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mIY8bTxDsA

Just lost a really good one.

Sucks to get attached to an animal, then have something happen.

Thought about this, and yes, I would clone that animal. Of course it would not be the same, as our state at any time is a combination of our physical characteristics and experience. I don't think that's in serious question at this point.

However, I also believe some traits about us are genetic.

Meaning, it's highly likely a clone would be another animal of the kind I could really get attached to and share meaningful experiences with.

It's like the offspring of a great animal, or people for that matter. There are some common elements in play there.

If this is done, with the intent of recovering a being (and animals are beings, just lower, simpler ones), then it's wrong and probably unhealthy.

On the other hand, this being done with the intent of enjoying another being of similar caliber, then I think there is a case for it being proper to do.

Had I been able to breed this animal, I would have the offspring to enjoy and perhaps bond with, but I don't, and there never was an option. In my case, the animal had a sibling that also had bad things happen to it last year. They both shared some core traits that worked well for me personally. Simply good animals, kind of like some people are good people.

I've noted with animals, there are sometimes very exceptional ones. They seem more awake to me, able to reason at a higher level and more importantly, communicate at a higher level.

I believe this is genetic as much as it is experience.

So, a clone then, my characteristics and tendencies to relate in specific ways, would be highly likely to return the interaction in a similar fashion.

I would not give it the same name or anything like that. That's the unhealthy bit, and it's kind of morbid.

I simply would treat it in a fashion similar to how I would treat a child of the parent and see what comes.

I might have done this years ago. But now (we just got another puppy after a 8 year break) I've just come to accept pets have short lives and not get too emotional about it when a vet tells me my dog has diabetes at age 8 or is in renal failure at age 10.

That's where I will get to as well.

A clone will remain expensive and very risky for a long time. No question about that. My post above was under the assumption that a clone was a viable option.

Don't mind getting emotional over it either. If the bond is real and special, there is gonna be some emotion over that, and either that's worth it or it's not.

In my case it was, so I'll just have to deal and move on.

Sucks though.

"If the bond is real and special, there is gonna be some emotion over that"

That's why there was that 8 year break. It was a bit much to bear that time.