Pet Cloning Gains Traction in U.S. with ViaGen Pets, Raising Ethical and Financial Questions
Pet cloning is becoming a more accessible, albeit expensive, option for U.S. pet owners, with ViaGen Pets in Austin, Texas, being the sole U.S.-based company offering this service. The process involves taking a live tissue biopsy from a pet, extracting its DNA, and placing it into a donor egg to create an embryo, which is then implanted into a surrogate mother. The entire procedure, from biopsy to birth, typically takes between nine and 15 months and costs $50,000 for a dog or cat, and $85,000 for a horse. Celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Tom Brady have publicly acknowledged cloning their pets, bringing more attention to the practice. Despite the growing interest, the decision to clone a pet rather than adopt an animal in need raises ethical considerations, particularly given the millions of dogs and cats entering shelters annually. 
