pet connection

After getting what surely must have been a billion dollars in free publicity, the pioneering pet-cloning business is closing up shop, according to the San Francisco Chronicle:

The Sausalito biotechnology company that charged a bereaved pet owner $50,000 to clone her cat two years ago is going out of business, associates confirmed Tuesday.

Genetic Savings and Clone is not accepting new orders for clones because the company was "unable to develop the technology to the point that cloning pets is commercially viable," according to a letter sent out to its clients.

The company, started by iconoclastic octogenarian and millionaire John Sperling, had cloned a total of two cats for sale, including Little Nicky, whose owner paid $50,000 for the duplicate in 2004. The company also charged clients to bank genetic material from pets they intended to clone.

The long-sought goal of replicating Sperling’s husky mix named Missy, who died in 2002 at the age of 15, was never achieved.

Here’s the rest of the piece. Also in the news, this little gem about a puppy-mill retail outlet store where a boxer pup was stolen:

[Store Owner Lisa] Malloy says this theft is now making them re-consider the set-up of their store.

"We try really hard to have a home environment for these dogs so they aren’t locked in little cages and to have someone come in and steal a live dog is just despicable," she says.

Why, what a caring person!  Amazing the concern, considering that pet-store owners and managers think nothing of buying from large-scale commercial breeders that care little for the animals beyond their value as livestock at best, and at worst maintain them for life in crap-filled cages exposed to the elements in puppy mills.

All so they can be cleaned up and displayed in play pens like babies. Whip out a credit card to buy and support a despicable industry. Better yet, don’t. Find a shelter, rescue group or reputable breeder. Read my "No Christmas Puppies" blog series and just say no to puppy mills. More puppy mill information here.

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