Mirror Image or Mirage? The Complicated Truth About Dog Cloning
When Barbara Streisand’s beloved Coton de Tulear, Samantha, passed away in 2017, the iconic singer found a way to keep her companion close—by cloning her. Streisand revealed in a New York Times interview that she had two puppies, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, created using cells from Samantha’s mouth and stomach. While the clones shared Samantha’s DNA, Streisand noted they had distinct personalities. “They’re different from her. You can clone the look of a dog, but you can’t clone the soul,” she reflected. Her candid remarks ignited global curiosity—and controversy—about the burgeoning world of pet cloning.

The Celebrities Leading the Pack
Streisand isn’t alone in her quest to replicate a cherished pet. Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg cloned her Jack Russell Terrier, Shannon, resulting in two puppies named Shadow and Deena. In Texas, a millionaire paid $50,000 to clone his late pit bull, creating five genetic duplicates.
The Science Behind the Sentiment
South Korea has emerged as a hub for the practice, with companies like Sooam Biotech offering cloning services since 2005, the same year the firm produced the world’s first cloned dog, Snuppy. Meanwhile, U.S.-based ViaGen Pets and China’s Sinogene have joined the market, catering to grieving pet owners willing to pay premium prices for a chance at genetic continuity.
The cloning process mirrors the technique used to create Dolly the Sheep in 1996, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Here’s how it works
- Genetic Preservation: A biopsy kit is used to collect tissue samples (typically from the abdomen) from the original pet. These samples are cultured to extract viable genetic material.
- Egg Cell Manipulation: An egg cell from a donor animal is enucleated, removing its DNA. The nucleus from the original pet’s somatic cell is inserted into the egg.
- Surrogate Mothers: The cloned embryo is implanted into a surrogate dog, who carries the pregnancy to term. Multiple surrogates are often required due to low success rates (20–40%).

For some, like Reddit user u/ScienceGeek87, the science delivers bittersweet results: “My cloned kitten has the same mannerisms as her original. But I can’t ignore the ethical guilt—those surrogate mothers are treated like machines.”
Why Clone? The Emotional Calculus
For many, cloning is a grief-driven investment. “It’s about preserving a bond that feels irreplaceable,” says a ViaGen Pets spokesperson. Advocates cite 10 potential benefits of cloning animals, including advancing medical research and offering solace to owners. Yet the outcome is imperfect. A cloned dog may resemble its predecessor but develop a unique personality shaped by environment. As Streisand discovered, the result is akin to raising an “identical twin born at a different time.”
Reddit user u/GrievingPaws shared their conflicted motivation: “Cloning felt like the only way to keep my Border Collie ‘alive.’ The puppy looks just like her, but it’s not a miracle. It’s her twin sister.”
The Controversy: Ethics, Costs, and Regrets

Critics argue that cloning prioritizes sentiment over ethics. The procedure requires harvesting eggs from donor dogs and implanting embryos into surrogates, sparking animal welfare concerns. The Humane Society condemns the practice as “exploitative,” noting shelters overflow with adoptable dogs while cloning companies charge up to $100,000. Health risks also loom: cloned animals face higher rates of genetic abnormalities, echoing issues seen in Dolly the Sheep, who aged prematurely.
Online forums brim with remorseful stories. u/CloneRegret2022 posted: “I regret cloning my dog. The clone has chronic health issues, and I feel guilty for putting another animal through this.” Others, like u/EthicsDebater, condemn the industry: “Cloning exploits grieving people. Surrogates are incubators—this is vanity, not love.”
The Results: A Mixed Legacy
Cloning’s success stories are tempered by sobering realities. While Streisand’s puppies are healthy, South Korea’s Sooam Biotech reports a 25% success rate—three out of four surrogate pregnancies may fail. Even successful clones often baffle owners. “He’s sweet, but he’s not MY Max,” lamented u/DogLover123 after cloning their Golden Retriever.
A Clone Is Not a Copy
Dog cloning offers a tantalizing illusion of immortality for beloved pets. Yet as Streisand’s experience—and the raw testimonials of Reddit users—underscore, science can’t replicate the intangible bonds that define our relationships with animals. For every owner who finds solace in a cloned puppy, others grapple with ethical unease or disappointment. As the technology evolves, so too will the debate over its place in a world where love and loss remain profoundly human experiences.
FAQs: Navigating the Cloning Conversation
How much does dog cloning cost?
Between $50,000(ViaGenPets)and $100,000 (Sooam Biotech), excluding annual genetic preservation fees (~$1,500).
What’s the success rate?
Roughly 20–40%, varying by company. Multiple surrogates are often needed.
Is cloning ethical?
Genetically, yes. But personality and temperament depend on upbringing and environment.
Which companies are reputable?
Sooam Biotech (South Korea), ViaGen Pets (U.S.), and Sinogene (China) dominate the market.