How far would you go to keep your best friend?

Would you consider cloning your dog? Dog, Inc.: The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man’s Best Friend explores the complex, and surprisingly intriguing, world of animal cloning. I was pulled into the book, and really had a hard time putting it down. From a billionaire with an interest in science and a desire to clone his lover’s dog Missy, to the police dog from Nova Scotia who found the last survivor victim of the attacks on 9/11, the book is full of characters both human and animal.

This isn’t just a story about cloning, it’s truly a story about people and their deep love for the pets they shared a life with. It’s also an interesting story on the history of cloning, including some twists and turns that surprised me. You will learn a lot about the process, and what I found interesting was just how hard it was to clone a dog in the first place.

Of course it raises the question, just because you can now clone your beloved pet, should you? Is the clone really a copy of the pet who passed? What about the health of clones, and what about all the animals needed in the process? I was happy to hear that during the cloning at Texas A&M, new rules were introduced that planned for lab dogs to be socialized and placed into loving homes (as apposed to the usual practice of putting them down after use).

The people in the book are wide and varied. Each with a unique reason for wanting to clone their animal. The animals are varied too! From Dolly the sheep (the first clone), to a Brahman bull that was a gentle giant, and even a cat that didn’t turn out to look a bit like the original! I was pulled into all the stories, and was also very interested in the science behind the process. It’s truly a book that anyone can enjoy because it does weave the personal into the nuts and bolts so very well.

The stories, though wide and varied, are ones that we can all relate to. Anyone who has loved a pet, especially one that was truly special, can understand the depth of that loss. I’m sure we have all said at one time or another that we would love to clone our pet. Would I clone my pet, even if I could afford the hefty price tag? No. I understand that it’s not bringing my pet back. Do I understand why others would want to? Of course!

If you have any interest in cloning, you will love this book. If cloning is nothing you have interest in, you will still love this book. There’s so much more to it than just the story of cloning. It’s more like a love story between people and the pets they love. You can learn more at DogIncTheBook.com.