19 hours Ago By Surbhi Kaul
A bond between a dog and its owner is very special and strong. An emotional story has emerged on social media about a woman in China who spent 160,000 yuan (US$22,000, over Rs 19 lakh) to clone her deceased dog. This incident has sparked public interest in pet cloning.
According to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, the practice, while legal in China, must adhere to ethical guidelines and be conducted by qualified companies. The report mentioned that the woman, identified as Xu, is from Hangzhou in eastern China. In 2011, she bought a Doberman named Joker, who became her devoted companion and protector.
Joker played an important role in Xu's life, providing her with a sense of security when she lived alone. However, at the age of nine, Joker developed malignant sarcoma in his neck, requiring surgery. Despite the risks, the dog bravely endured the procedure without anesthesia, trusting his owner completely.
As Joker aged, he also developed heart problems, leading Xu to admit him to a Shanghai pet hospital for treatment every two weeks. Unfortunately, in November 2022, the beloved dog succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 11. Xu shared, "Joker was my closest friend.
He witnessed a decade of my life, from my studies to my career," as quoted by SCMP. She was devastated, which took a toll on her mental and physical health. As someone from a medical background, she had been researching and following China's advancements in pet cloning.
After China successfully cloned its first dog in 2017, she consulted experts and decided to go forward with the procedure, the report added. Xu then approached a cloning company and paid the fee in advance. Scientists took a skin sample from Joker’s abdomen and ear tips, using the tissue to create an embryo, which was then implanted into a surrogate mother.
A year later, Xu received confirmation that the cloning was successful. She received updates every 15 days, including ultrasound reports and growth videos. Just before the 2024 Lunar New Year, Xu collected the cloned puppy and named him Little Joker.
She was surprised by the resemblance, as both dogs shared an identical black spot near the nose and even displayed similar behaviors. Xu shared that Little Joker stole socks, drank water the same way, and even carried Joker's old leash. However, she acknowledged that the new dog could never truly replace Joker.
She said, "Caring for this new life helped me temporarily forget the pain of losing Joker," as quoted by SCMP. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Viral and around the world..
