Pet Puppies Cloned

John, I too think that modern technology and medical advancements are wonderful. However, cloning does disturb me and not just because of the spiritual issues.  It concerns me that when people start cloning their lost loved ones, be it animals or humans, what exactly are they hoping to accomplish? My fear is that they are attempting to shot circuit their own grieving process by trying to "bring back" the object of their affections.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that I lose a child in death. I clone that child in order to assuage my own feelings of guilt and grief.  In the end I will not have my dead child back.  Furthermore, I have now placed an unfair burden upon the cloned child to “become” his brother. What kind of like with that be for him?

I respect your opinion but I still think that we are on a very slippery slope.

Hi, Diana.

The woman who had her pet cloned seems very happy. The cloned pets don't have a clue about where they came from, and they never will. I see nothing wrong with that.

However, I agree that it's different with human beings. If you cloned your child, all kinds of complex problems enter the equation.

 What worries me about the slippery slope argument is the fact that we may block advances that could have huge benefits because we're afraid of technological misuses.  

Thought you all may like this :-

The Dog's Purpose from a 6 year old

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me.  I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
2. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
3. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
4. Take naps.
5. Stretch before rising.
6. Run, romp, and play daily.
7. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
8. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
9. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
10. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
11. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
12. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
13. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
14. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
15. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
16. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
17. Be always grateful for each new day.