Barbra Streisand has had her late dog Samantha cloned -- not once, but twice. The price? Upwards of $100,000 per cloned dog.
Samantha, a Coton de Tulear (pictured at left in inset photo from Instagram), died last year at the age of 14. Streisand had DNA cells taken from the dog's mouth and stomach in order to clone two new dogs -- Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett.
In an interview with Variety, Streisand admitted the clones don't have the same personality as her late beloved pet, saying, “They have different personalities. I’m waiting for them to get older so I can see if they have her brown eyes and her seriousness.”
This is standard with cloning -- although physical characteristics are carried over, the personality of a late animal does not.
This has animal lovers up in arms, criticizing Streisand for spending an exorbitant amount of money to clone dogs when there are many dogs who need homes desperately, not to mention the good the money that went towards cloning could do for humans in need through various charities.
PETA released a statement that read: "Animals’ personalities, quirks, and very ‘essence’ simply cannot be replicated, and when you consider that millions of wonderful adoptable dogs are languishing in animal shelters every year or dying in terrifying ways when abandoned, you realize that cloning adds to the homeless-animal population crisis. And because cloning has a high failure rate, many dogs are caged and tormented for every birth that actually occurs — so that’s not fair to them, despite the best intentions. We feel Barbra’s grief at losing her beloved dog but would also love to have talked her out of cloning."
What do you think? Would you have a pet cloned? If your pet died, would you look within the same breed for similar physical characteristics or would you consider getting a dog from a shelter? Tell us your thoughts below. ~Alexandra Heilbron
It's sort of like getting a twin. Twins never have the same personality, often they're polar opposites. Having said that, even if I had the money, if I wanted a similar dog when mine passed, I would just get the same breed from a rescue organization. If you want a certain breed and don't have to have a puppy, there's a rescue service for almost every breed.
I am a huge animal lover, particularly cats. While I understand her grief, I feel the money would have been better spent elsewhere. I personally would not clone an animal, but would open my home to one or two of the many homeless/sheltered cats in need of love.
Its her money, its her choice! This is America!!!!!
The Looney entitled left. Hey Babs... here's a couple of ideas on how you should have spent your millions. Fisrt...think how many of your beloved illegals you could have shared the wealth with. Second..and more important...you should have made a hefty donation to the RNC
I was expecting a Pet Cemetary story! Dang. But really hopefully people can see that you can clone which makes a 'thing' identical looking but it's the environment and interactions with others which shapes a personality.
When you have too much money and are really BORED with your life...you clone things! That is what her pet was...an accessory...has she preserved her tissue samples to be cloned? Crazy is as crazy does!
Really people??? I love my dog too. Yes there are many other ways to support causes however isn’t it a personal choice as to how Barbara spends her hard earned money. The judgment from others is very clear. ‘Barbara, you do what you want with YOUR money. It’s no one else’s business’. Stand down people & put your energy on your own passions & do what YOU can for what you’re passionate about. Society is so wrapped up in everyone else’s business. Geeeezzzz 🙄
To paraphrase Ed Wood, "She will show the world that she can be it's master. She will perfect her own race of super canines, and together, they will conquer the world!" Seriously folks, Life doesn't work like that, and this is Michael Jackson creepy...
She has made lots of audiences and fans happy. So she makes her own personal life happy too. She is probably fairly charitable. So - Way to go Barbra
Most cloned animals suffer horrible health defects so it's hardly "Way to go Barbra..."
From what I've read over the years, Barbra Streisand has always been very generous with her talent, charities, love and understanding. It should not be beyond our understanding now for the choice she made regarding cloning Samantha, her Coton de Tulear. We all deal with grief in different ways, and . . . it's her decision to make.