We can clone pet dogs - But is that a good idea?

We can clone pet dogs - But is that a good idea?
Producing a cloned dog requires several additional dogs to help bring it to life.
In an interview with Scientific American , the author of a book on dog cloning, John Woestendiek, explained the process:In addition to the tissue sample from the original dog, cloners will need to collect eggs from dogs in heat - perhaps a dozen . dogs, to bring the puppies to birth. During the process, the nucleus is taken from the eggs of the original donor and injected with material from the animal to be cloned. It takes about 60 days after injection with the cloned embryo for the dogs to be born, sometimes by cesarean section surgery.
Cloned animals contain exactly the same genes as their donors, but may have slight variations in how these genes are expressed. Markings or eye color, for example, may be different.
The dog's personality is influenced by the environment in which the puppy is born, so it is unlikely that it can be replicated in the laboratory.
The FDA monitors the cloning of animals such as sheep and goats, and according to the agency's website, cloned animals are generally healthy. Dogs, however, have somewhat more complicated reproductive systems, making them more difficult to clone.
When dogs were first cloned, scientists were concerned that the clones would age faster than natural dogs. But in most cases, clones are just as healthy as dogs that are not cloned.
The first dog clone was created in 2005 - an Afghan greyhound named Snuppy in South Korea.
Snuppy lived for about 10 years before he died of cancer. Afghan greyhounds live about 11 years.
In 2015, scientists went a step further by cloning three new Snuppy puppies. In an article in the journal Nature about the research, the scientists stated that the dogs appeared healthy and normal and would be monitored over the years.
Unlike animals in the agricultural industry, cloning of pets is not regulated. In 2005, California attempted to pass a bill banning the practice. Officials cited health concerns and worries that animal control would be unmanageable if pet owners turned to clones instead of shelters. The bill was ultimately rejected.
Without oversight, it is difficult to know how many dogs are cloned each year. Some animal advocacy groups, such as the Humane Society, oppose the practice.
The Humane Society of the United States opposes the cloning of any animal for commercial purposes due to major animal welfare concerns. Companies offering to clone pets profit from upset pet lovers by falsely promising a replica of a beloved pet. With millions of deserving dogs and cats needing a home, cloning pets is completely unnecessary, said Vicki Katrinak, program manager of the society's animal research issues program.
The European Union's proposed enforcement measures also focus only on food.