Dead dogs and cats cloned by grieving owners to have a piece of them back’ – Daily Star

Grieving pet owners are forking out thousands of pounds to clone their beloved pets in a bid to keep their memories alive.

Cloning gives owners the chance to extend the loving bond they shared with their pet but with an identical twin animal.

ViaGen Pets and Equine is able to clone cats, dogs and horses by taking tissue cells from an animal which are then frozen and stored.

Once the pet owner is ready to begin cloning, the company uses a small portion of cells to form an embryo which is then transferred into a surrogate dog.

ViaGen offers Genetic Preservation for a cool $1600 (1200) with cloning services ranging anywhere from $50,000 (38,000) to $85,000 (65,000) depending on the animal.

But for some - the price tag doesn't matter as pet owners usually preserve their pet's DNA during harrowing times.

ViaGen Client Service Manager Melain Rodriguez said: "Most clients are preserving their pet's DNA when the pet is approaching the end of its life or just after the pet has passed away.

"The pet is often the best dog, cat or foal they've ever had and the thought of being without their animal is too much to bear.

"Preserving the DNA through Genetic Preservation offered the pet parent hope and peace.

"It helps keeps the pet's memory alive and give the pet parent hope, knowing that they could clone that pet someday."

Melain speaks from experience and revealed she took steps to preserve both of her dogs after they passed away a year ago.

She said: "I have two of my own dogs' cells cryopreserved.

"They both passed away about a year ago and the older one Zeus was 13 when passed.

"He was my husband's sidekick and best buddy.

"We'd love to clone Zeus someday and have a little piece of him back."

Melain is also the mum pet mum to gorgeous cloned Bengal cat Benji.

The cat Benji was cloned from was owned by a friend of Melain who is a Bengal cat breeder.

He cloned his favourite male cat Prestige and 2 kittens were born as a result.

"In most situations, the client wants to take all kittens or puppies that are born, but because this owner was a friend of mine, and he knew how much I loved Prestige, he was gracious enough to give Benji to me and he kept the other kitten," Melain told Daily Star Online.

Prestige and Benji are extremely similar and have the same temperament but do differ.

Melain said: "Benji is a bit more rotund than Prestige.

"Benji loves to eat in his spare time but Prestige loves to chase girl cats in his spare time."

Melain said ViaGen manage the pet owners expectations by making sure they understand the animal is not a reincarnation of the original pet but an identical twin.

She said: "The cloned animal will most likely have different experiences that will help mould the personality of the pet but the underlying temperament and intelligence of the pet is highly influenced by its genetics which will be the same.

"If a pet has a disease or illness that is genetically linked - then the pet owner needs to be aware that the cloned animal will have the same genetics and the same genetic potential to develop that same disease or illness at some point in its life."

The self-proclaimed animal lover said she understands some may not understand the need for the service but the company fulfils a need that cannot be met in any other manner.

She said: "We understand that many people believe strongly that breeders should not increase the dog or cat populations with new puppies or kittens until shelters are no longer needed for unwanted dogs or cats.

"But we also see a space for responsible breeders and we have seen where our services can fulfil a need that cannot be met in any manner."

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Dead dogs and cats cloned by grieving owners to have a piece of them back' - Daily Star