Texas Company Will Clone Your Pet for a Price

ABILENE, TX — Saying goodbye to a beloved pet isn’t easy, but with the help of Viagen Pets, it can be possible. The Texas-based company delivers “genetic preservation and cloning services to pet and horse owners worldwide.”

According to KTXS, the company recently cloned Topper, an award-winning rodeo horse. 

“He passed away unexpectedly, so the clients had the foresight to preserve his DNA,” said Melaine Rodriguez with Viagen Pets.

For only $1,600 Viagen will perform genetic preservation of a dog or cat’s genes as the first step to pet cloning. The pet is referred to a veterinarian where a small biopsy is performed, and the sample is sent to a lab. The process can be started before the death of the pet.

“We preserve the DNA through the genetic preservation, you’re not obligated to clone — that gives you the option at any point in the future,” said Rodriguez.

Cloning a beloved pet is an expensive endeavor. Cloning a cat costs $35,000, a dog is $50,000, and a horse is $85,000.

According to Rodriguez, as cloning technology becomes more refined the cost of cloning can be expected to go down.

“You can spend $40,000 on a new vehicle or you could clone your pet,” said Rodriguez. “And the vehicle doesn’t love you back.”

Knowing a beloved pet can be comforting for many people.

“It helps ease the pain and the grief knowing that there’s that potential to have a little piece of them back,” said Rodriguez.