Owners Pursue Dog Cloning After Pet’s Death in Hit-and-Run

A couple intends to spend over $50,000 (£38,848) to clone their cherished dog, which died in a hit-and-run incident. Bijoux, a husky crossbreed from Bournemouth in Dorset, passed away in June after being struck by a vehicle. Her owners, Dominika Sojka and Ian Clague, described the 10-month-old puppy as friendly, happy, and intelligent. Ms Sojka stated that they were “not ready to say goodbye” to Bijoux and will now dispatch her DNA to the United States for cloning. Bijoux went missing from the couple’s garden on 29 June. The following morning, a local vet contacted the pair to deliver the news that she had been found deceased. Ms Sojka, 34, remarked: “It was very shocking for me and it took me a lot of days to even get the idea that she was gone.” In their period of grief, the couple researched pet cloning online and discovered that it is sometimes performed in the United States. They contacted UK-based company Gemeni Genetics, which successfully collected some DNA from Bijoux’s paw. This genetic material is currently being securely stored while the couple awaits the commencement of the cloning process with US-based company ViaGen. The company utilizes trained dogs that serve as surrogates for the clone embryos. Once the clones are born, they are delivered to their owners at eight weeks old. Mr Clague, 62, commented: “We grew up with Bijoux from a tiny puppy and it [the cloning] would remove some of the pain of the loss.” Although cloning is primarily a physical reproduction, Ms Sojka noted that “a lot of traits are genetic.” She added, “It’s the closest you can have to feeling Bijoux again.” The couple also has Bijoux’s younger sister, Saphir, and mentioned that the animals had formed a bond. Ms Sojka observed: “You could see that Saphir was really looking for her, every time I played a video and she heard Bijoux’s name.” She expressed her fascination regarding how Saphir will react to the cloned version of her sister in the future. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.