German shepherd puppies, cloned from hero 9/11 search and rescue dog, come to L.A.

Source: LA Times


Last June, we told you about one of the strangest essay contests we've heard of yet. BioArts International, the California-based company known for selling the cloned copies of the dogs of deep-pocketed owners, famously cloned a much-loved Labrador retriever named Lancelot for the low, low price of $155,000. (The cloned puppy was dubbed "Lancelot Encore," and his human family, Edgar and Nina Otto, could afford it -- Edgar is the son of one of the founders of NASCAR.) But not everyone can afford that price tag, and so BioArts announced its Golden Clone Giveaway, through which one winner would be chosen to have their dog cloned free of charge.

The contest winner, it turns out, is James Symington, a retired Canadian police officer who now lives in Los Angeles. Symington wrote movingly about his dog Trakr, a German shepherd who participated in search-and-rescue efforts at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of 9/11. (Symington and Trakr eventually located the last survivor found after the attacks.)

"Once in a lifetime, a dog comes along that not only captures the hearts of all he touches but also plays a pivotal role in history," began Symington's essay about Trakr, who died at age 16 in April. In the years before his death, the dog had lost the use of his rear legs due to a degenerative neurological disorder that some experts believe was related to exposure to toxic smoke at Ground Zero.

Trakr's story "blew us away."

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/06/german-shepherd-clones-come-to-la.html

It need that amount and more for spay and neuter programs. Dogs and cats are losing their homes, owners have to give them up. It's truely heartbreaking. And amazingly stupid to think that a cloned dog will actually be the "same" dog.

Nice work, fucko.

Flame away.

It's a strange- or maybe just curious story all around, don't you think?

If someone will pay for something, someone will supply that need or want.

If people (sheeple) would stand around and wish to pay for an exhibition of

SOMEONE JUMPING IN A POND AND FUCKING FISH

There would be an ENTREPRENEUR who would step up and hire someone (or maybe more than 1) to do it and charge admission.

The "MARKET" would quickly set the price.

This concept is what drives the value of "Art" at an auction, rock concerts and the cloning of the family pet.

</Sarcasm> For those who think line 3 above is serious.

someone wants someone killed, so they pay some to kill them - geez - just get over it - it's only capitalism.

You may not "HAVE TO PAY"

Read Richard II by Shakespeare

When Bolingbroke, as the new king, asks whether anyone will rid him of Richard, Exton assumes Bolingbroke wants him dead. With two assistants, he kills the king, who dies bravely. Exton reminds Henry that he wished him dead, Henry, full of guilt, banishes Exton.

you have to admit, it would be extremely funny! :rofl:

Footnote: No cruelty to fish assumed or intended. :evilgrin:

I'm sure the dog in the story was a wonderful dog. Thing is, there are dogs just as wonderful in shelters right now - many of whom won't be there tomorrow or next week.

A dog that can provide service and find corpses is rare. Those are genetic traits you don't want to lose.

I know everyone is all 1984 about cloning dogs whose DNA-based traits only come along once in a century, but the average mutt in a shelter can't do that work.

You want to risk your life in a dangerous situation with a Pekinese/pit bull hybrid you got from a shelter, go right ahead. I'll take the clone of an actual, talented dog.

There are plenty of dogs being bred specifically for those kinds of jobs. Most of what you are paying for when you buy them is the training, not genes.

And there are many, many, many wonderful shelter dogs dying every day. The dogs that are considered too dangerous to be adopted are the 1st to be euthanized.

A dog doesn't have to be a "purebred" anything to be a good pet.

AND there is a large service dog organization based in S. Oregon that specifically gets its dogs from *shelters.*

The best of their rescued dogs get trained as "hearing ear" dogs. The rest are adopted out as pets.

What *also* never seems to be mentioned in the cloning articles are the "misfires." The many genetic disasters that are euthanized immediately at birth. Or that have health or developmental problems appear when they are 1 or 2 years old.

When my mom went to go get Pip after seeing her on Petfinder, there were some people from a place in Oregon there about to take her (the dog, not my mom).

Pippi would have made a terrific service dog. She's a terrific family pet. :)

Any dog with the proper training and a good nose can be a working dog. ANY dog. Breed has nothing to do with it.

it can be the case for this dogs

That dog touched magic fucking fairy powder. 9/11 doggie. Oooohhhhh. Sell me a limited edition plate with a picture of cloned puppy and WTC towers on fire any day.

"the dog had lost the use of his rear legs due to a degenerative neurological disorder that some experts believe was related to exposure to toxic smoke at Ground Zero."



Interesting. The official Bush Admin meme was that Ground Zero Syndrome was just those rescue workers stressing out. Their illnesses were mostly imagined, in their heads. It was actually safe around the WTC Ground Zero site.

I guess this dog was imagining his illness(es) too?

Both of our greyhounds did as did several of our friends' dogs. Maybe larger dogs are more susceptible...? :shrug:

Makes for an interesting story though. ;)

Location removed because this sort of thing is happening all over the country...



While I appreciate that Trakr is a hero, and a very special dog, I can't condone creating more dogs while there are already so very many "very special dogs" (because, IMHO, they're all special!) out there needing a home.

ITA - no dogs should be cloned while there are millions in shelters.

As others have pointed out in this thread, there are undoubtedly hundreds of potential "Trakrs" on doggie death row at this very moment. Dogs with the right temperment, skills, and abilities. The only difference is the accident of fate.

Stories like these are infuriating and heartbreaking.

:mad:

:cry:

there are thousands of once in a lifetime, great dogs euthanized every day. It's sad people don't bother to check them out before having an animal cloned or even buying from a breeder.