74% of Gen Z Would Clone Their Dog: The Science, Cost, and Controversy Explained
In recent years, pet cloning has shifted from a celebrity curiosity to something many everyday pet owners are thinking about. A surprising 74% of Gen Z dog owners say they would be willing to spend around $50,000 to clone their dog, according to a recent survey. That’s a huge percentage—and it raises a lot of questions. What exactly is pet cloning? How does it work? Why is it so expensive? And why do so many people support it, while others have serious ethical concerns?
Let’s break down everything you need to know about cloning your dog—from the science behind it, to the costs, and the heated debate around it.
Why Are So Many Young People Interested in Cloning Their Pets?
The bond between people and their pets can be incredibly strong. For many, a dog or cat isn’t just a pet—it’s family. And when that beloved pet passes away, it can feel like losing a piece of yourself. That’s where cloning comes in for some pet parents.
Take Kelly Anderson, for example. She hadn’t even heard much about cloning until just weeks before her cat, Chai, died. After Chai passed, she decided to store her cat’s DNA and eventually cloned her, paying around $25,000 for a genetic twin named Belle (Bradley, 2025). For Kelly, it wasn’t just about having a lookalike cat; it was about keeping a part of her family alive.
Kelly’s story isn’t unique. A large survey of nearly 2,000 dog owners and 100 veterinarians found that half of pet parents would consider cloning their dog if they could—and Gen Z stands out, with 74% saying they’d be willing to pay for cloning (Bradley, 2025). Many young pet owners feel this is worth the cost to keep their pet’s legacy going.
How Does Cloning Actually Work?
Cloning might sound like science fiction, but it’s a real process that has been around for decades. Here’s how it works in simple terms:
DNA Collection: First, a tiny skin sample is taken from the pet. This is a simple, painless procedure, like getting a mole removed. The sample provides the DNA needed to create a clone.
Creating the Embryo: Scientists take an egg cell from a donor animal and remove its own DNA. Then, they insert one of the pet’s cells into this empty egg.
Surrogate Pregnancy: This egg starts to divide and grow just like a natural embryo. It is then implanted into a surrogate mother dog who carries the puppy to term.
The cloned puppy is genetically identical to the original pet but won’t necessarily have the same personality. That’s because a dog’s behavior is influenced not just by genetics but also by environment and experiences.
While cloning technology has been around since Dolly the Sheep was cloned in 1996, the first cloned dog came in 2005. Today, companies like ViaGen Pets & Equine in the U.S. and Sooam Biotech in South Korea offer commercial cloning services.
Why Does Cloning Cost So Much?
Cloning isn’t cheap—expect to pay around $50,000 per pet (Bradley, 2025). The price reflects the complexity of the procedure, the scientific expertise required, and the care for surrogate mothers and puppies.
Besides cloning, there’s also the cost to store your pet’s DNA if you want to “bank” it for future use. This usually runs about $1,600 upfront and $150 a year for storage.
What Are the Ethical Concerns Around Cloning?
Cloning is not without controversy. Animal welfare advocates and many scientists have raised serious concerns about the ethics and impact of cloning:
Animal Welfare: The process of harvesting eggs from donor dogs and using surrogates can be stressful and potentially harmful. Lindsay Marshall from Humane World for Animals describes the oocyte (egg) harvesting process as “traumatic” and notes surrogate dogs may go through pregnancy and loss without understanding what is happening (Bradley, 2025).
Low Success Rates: Cloning remains inefficient. A 2023 study found that from 419 eggs collected from 38 female dogs, only four puppies were born, and just three survived (Bradley, 2025). That means many animals are involved in procedures that don’t result in successful clones.
Impact on Shelter Pets: Groups like PETA argue cloning worsens the pet overpopulation problem by diverting resources and attention from millions of homeless animals in shelters. PETA president Ingrid Newkirk has said cloning doesn’t create the same pet—it only creates a genetic copy, which is “a new and different dog” (Bradley, 2025).
Commodification of Pets: Critics also worry cloning turns pets into “commodities,” ignoring their individuality and the emotional realities of pet ownership.
The ASPCA has even called for a pause on commercial cloning to allow a thorough review of the science and ethics behind it.
What Do Cloning Companies Say?
Companies like ViaGen Pets & Equine emphasize that many of the animals whose DNA they store were originally adopted from shelters, where mixed-breed dogs may be hard to find matches for. They say cloning is about preserving a special bond that can’t be replicated through adoption.
ViaGen also reports improved technology and lower failure rates compared to decades ago. The company is USDA-regulated and claims full responsibility for animals born during cloning.
For pet owners like Kelly Anderson, cloning offers comfort and a way to keep a piece of their lost pet close. Kelly describes getting to know her cloned cat Belle as “surreal,” and while Belle is genetically identical to Chai, their personalities are different. Still, Belle has helped her through difficult emotional times much like Chai did.
Should You Clone Your Dog?
If you’re considering cloning, think carefully about what you hope to gain and the realities involved. Cloning is expensive, complicated, and doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the same pet back. Many experts recommend adoption as a loving alternative that saves lives and provides homes to dogs in need.
Pet cloning is a fascinating mix of cutting-edge science and deeply human emotion. The strong interest among Gen Z reflects how much people love their pets and want to hold onto that connection. However, it’s important to weigh the ethical considerations and the impact on animal welfare.
Whether through cloning or adoption, what really matters is the love, care, and companionship we share with our pets.
