A Chinese woman has caused a stir online after spending 160,000 yuan (US$22,000) to clone her deceased dog, sparking widespread curiosity about pet cloning services. While animal cloning is legal in China, it must adhere to ethical guidelines, and cloning companies are required to have proper qualifications.
The woman, identified only as Xu from Hangzhou in eastern China, shared her story with the media outlet Personage. In 2011, Xu adopted a Doberman named Joker, who became her loyal companion and provided her with an “irreplaceable sense of security” during her years of living alone.
Joker endured several health challenges, including malignant sarcoma surgery at the age of nine. The surgery, which was performed without anesthesia due to the risks involved, saw the dog remain calm and cooperative throughout. Xu described Joker as “trusting and strong,” noting how the dog bravely endured the pain.
However, when Joker turned 10, heart problems began to surface, including frequent coughing, wheezing, and twitching. Xu sought treatment for the dog at a Shanghai pet hospital every two weeks. But in November 2022, Joker passed away at the age of 11 after suffering a heart attack.
The loss of her dog left Xu devastated. “Joker was my closest friend. It witnessed a decade of my life, from my studies to my career,” she said. The grief was overwhelming, leading to insomnia, a weakened immune system, and frequent illnesses.
With a background in the medical field, Xu had been following China’s emerging pet cloning industry. In 2017, after the country successfully cloned its first dog, she began consulting with experts in the field. Xu chose to keep the name of the cloning company private, but after visiting their facility, she made the decision to clone Joker. She paid the 160,000 yuan fee upfront.
The process involved taking a skin sample from Joker, which was combined with an egg cell from another dog to create an embryo. The embryo was then implanted in a surrogate dog to give birth to the clone. The cloned pet is said to closely resemble the original in appearance, personality, and traits, similar to twins. Additionally, the clone does not experience health issues or premature aging and is expected to live a normal lifespan.
After Joker’s death, the cloning company took a small sample of skin from its abdomen and ears. Around a year later, Xu received ultrasound reports confirming the success of the cloning process, along with growth videos of the developing embryo.
Before the 2024 Lunar New Year, Xu picked up the cloned dog, which she named “Little Joker,” from the facility. She soon noticed striking similarities between the clone and the original. The two shared nearly identical physical features, including a black spot near the nose. Little Joker also exhibited the same quirky behaviors, such as stealing socks, drinking water in the same way, and displaying the same obedient and gentle personality. The clone even picked up Joker’s old leash and carried it around.
Despite the resemblance, Xu acknowledges that Little Joker cannot replace her late pet. She still carries a notebook filled with photos of Joker. “Caring for this new life helped me temporarily forget the pain of losing Joker,” Xu said. She views Little Joker not as a replacement but as a fresh, independent life, offering her a second chance to love and care for a dog with the experience she lacked during Joker’s life.
While Xu’s story has captured the attention of many, some netizens have raised concerns about the ethics of pet cloning. They questioned whether the surrogate dogs used in the cloning process might suffer. Xu assured the public that the dogs are well cared for by the cloning company, and some even find new homes with pet lovers.
The debate has sparked mixed reactions online. One netizen supported Xu’s decision, saying, “Cloning is not about bringing back the dead. It is a way to continue love.” Others, however, expressed reservations. One comment pointed out that “the soul of a dog cannot be cloned” and suggested that relying on cloning to cope with the loss of a pet may not be a healthy solution.
The case highlights the ongoing conversation about the ethics and emotional implications of cloning pets in the modern world.
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