Talk Cancer

Question:

Another dog that was put down that I really like was Pablo. Pablo was a yellow Lab that had an amazing mouth/toy fetish.  No matter what, EVERY TIME he came into the clinic, he had something in his mouth.  He wasn’t comfortable going anywhere unless he had something in his mouth, whether it was a toy or a towel. Pablo developed a splenic tumor so his spleen had to be removed.  I remember being there on that day.  Pablo came in holding in his mouth a teddy bear with a Lakers basketball jersey.  Awwwwww!!! After the surgery the toy was out of his mouth obviously, and he was whining as he was waking up.  Irememebr that I thought it was kinda funny, because I pictured him saying, "My spleen……they took my spleen……" Anyways, he recovered just fine from the surgery, but was undergoing chemo to eradicate any remaining cancer.  everytime he was in for chemo he had a toy or a towel in his mouth.  I remember he was also in for a bath.  When I came to take him up to his owner, he was lying down in the run with the towel in front of him.  As soon as he saw me, he immediately picked up the towel and wagged his tail. Even when he had his chemo, he had a toy in his mouth. He was a big dog and it normally took two people just to hold him down while he received his chemo.  He would sometimes drop his toy, but as soon as he was done, he would pick it up again and be wagging his tail. Well about a month ago, we found out that the cancer had spread.  I don’t know the details, but I do know that I came into work one day to find his name on the RB board.  he had a very bubbly personality along with that silly mouth fetish that made him unforgettable.  I shall miss him. Or will I? I found out later that Pablo’s owners had taken a bunch of tissue samples. Why?  Because they were going to have Pablo cloned. scientific discussion on why this is a bad idea, but I’m not going to waste the energy.  It is NOT the same dog.  The only thing that will be the same will be the genetic material as far as I’m concerned.  The gossip that I heard was that the owners are spending $50K to clone Pablo.  Why don’t they take the $50K and give it to a shelter or to cancer research?? I’m sad and yet I’m puzzled.  I shall miss Pablo greatly, but yet I’m puzzled that the owners would spend that much to just clone their pet. Our experiences, surroundings and the people around us shape the person we are, so I don’t see how this cloning Pablo will be the same. Of course I’ve never seen a cloned animal before.  WHo knows.  maybe one day a lab puppy with a mouth fetish will come into the clinic…… Kristi

Response:

On 2005-07-16, Mischief penned: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I found out later that Pablo’s owners had taken a bunch of tissue samples. Why?  Because they were going to have Pablo cloned. scientific discussion on why this is a bad idea, but I’m not going to waste the energy.  It is NOT the same dog.  The only thing that will be the same will be the genetic material as far as I’m concerned.  The gossip that I heard was that the owners are spending $50K to clone Pablo.  Why don’t they take the $50K and give it to a shelter or to cancer research?? I’m sad and yet I’m puzzled.  I shall miss Pablo greatly, but yet I’m puzzled that the owners would spend that much to just clone their pet.  Our experiences, surroundings and the people around us shape the person we are, so I don’t see how this cloning Pablo will be the same.

Maybe it’s similar to the desire to have kids.  Obviously the kids won’t be exactly like you, but they will have some of your family’s traits and some of the other parent’s.  It *will* be like having Pablo’s sibling, assuming all goes well. I can’t understand cloning a pet either, but I think it’s dangerous to criticize others’ spending.  For example, around here, giving to a shelter is considered good, but in other groups/cultures/areas it might be considered silly to give to animals when so many people are in need.  Or you could criticize me for having a nice car.  Or I could criticize someone else for spending lots on expensive cosmetics … everyone has their own priorities and interests, and what others spend their money on seems foolish … If Pablo’s owners weren’t in the position to spend that much money on cloning, they might not have been in the position to spend so much on surgeries and chemo treatments trying to keep him alive … None of which is to criticize you, but me, I try not to worry too much about what others spend their money on; I know others have plenty of room to do the same to me. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – scientific discussion on why this is a bad idea, but I’m not going to waste the energy.  It is NOT the same dog.  The only thing that will be the same will be the genetic material as far as I’m concerned.  The gossip that I heard was that the owners are spending $50K to clone Pablo.  Why don’t they take the $50K and give it to a shelter or to cancer research?? I’m sad and yet I’m puzzled.  I shall miss Pablo greatly, but yet I’m puzzled that the owners would spend that much to just clone their pet.  Our experiences, surroundings and the people around us shape the person we are, so I don’t see how this cloning Pablo will be the same. Maybe it’s similar to the desire to have kids.  Obviously the kids won’t be exactly like you, but they will have some of your family’s traits and some of the other parent’s.  It *will* be like having Pablo’s sibling, assuming all goes well. I can’t understand cloning a pet either, but I think it’s dangerous to criticize others’ spending.  For example, around here, giving to a shelter is considered good, but in other groups/cultures/areas it might be considered silly to give to animals when so many people are in need.  Or you could criticize me for having a nice car.  Or I could criticize someone else for spending lots on expensive cosmetics … everyone has their own priorities and interests, and what others spend their money on seems foolish … If Pablo’s owners weren’t in the position to spend that much money on cloning, they might not have been in the position to spend so much on surgeries and chemo treatments trying to keep him alive … None of which is to criticize you, but me, I try not to worry too much about what others spend their money on; I know others have plenty of room to do the same to me. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

I could see getting really attached to a dog like Pablo. Although I agree, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around that 50K  price tag to clone him.  A dog’s time on earth is finite, and even when we can’t replicate a beloved animal, we can find another dog we love in different ways.   I guess they must have plenty more  money where it came from, lucky souls. Although I have to agree with Monique, those  who earn the money have a right to spend it as they see fit, even if I think their priorities are way out of whack.  God knows, I can be plenty extravagant myself. But I always feel nettled when somebody else tells me "Oh you can’t afford that.." even if they believe they’re acting in my best interests. Nevertheless, I’m sorry to hear that Pablo and Jodi have both crossed the Rainbow Bridge. If you didn’t have love and appreciation for the animals you tend, Kristi, I’d say you were in the wrong profession. =o) Melissa

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – scientific discussion on why this is a bad idea, but I’m not going to waste the energy.  It is NOT the same dog.  The only thing that will be the same will be the genetic material as far as I’m concerned.  The gossip that I heard was that the owners are spending $50K to clone Pablo.  Why don’t they take the $50K and give it to a shelter or to cancer research?? I’m sad and yet I’m puzzled.  I shall miss Pablo greatly, but yet I’m puzzled that the owners would spend that much to just clone their pet.  Our experiences, surroundings and the people around us shape the person we are, so I don’t see how this cloning Pablo will be the same. Maybe it’s similar to the desire to have kids.  Obviously the kids won’t be exactly like you, but they will have some of your family’s traits and some of the other parent’s.  It *will* be like having Pablo’s sibling, assuming all goes well. I can’t understand cloning a pet either, but I think it’s dangerous to criticize others’ spending.  For example, around here, giving to a shelter is considered good, but in other groups/cultures/areas it might be considered silly to give to animals when so many people are in need.  Or you could criticize me for having a nice car.  Or I could criticize someone else for spending lots on expensive cosmetics … everyone has their own priorities and interests, and what others spend their money on seems foolish … If Pablo’s owners weren’t in the position to spend that much money on cloning, they might not have been in the position to spend so much on surgeries and chemo treatments trying to keep him alive … None of which is to criticize you, but me, I try not to worry too much about what others spend their money on; I know others have plenty of room to do the same to me. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca I could see getting really attached to a dog like Pablo. Although I agree, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around that 50K  price tag to clone him. A dog’s time on earth is finite, and even when we can’t replicate a beloved animal, we can find another dog we love in different ways.   I guess they must have plenty more  money where it came from, lucky souls. Although I have to agree with Monique, those  who earn the money have a right to spend it as they see fit, even if I think their priorities are way out of whack.  God knows, I can be plenty extravagant myself. But I always feel nettled when somebody else tells me "Oh you can’t afford that.." even if they believe they’re acting in my best interests.

The thing that bugged me is when people told me ‘Oh you CAN afford that’. How would they know what I can and cannot afford? I may have different prirorities and choose to send my $$ differently. Winnie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nevertheless, I’m sorry to hear that Pablo and Jodi have both crossed the Rainbow Bridge. If you didn’t have love and appreciation for the animals you tend, Kristi, I’d say you were in the wrong profession. =o) Melissa

Response:

the same will be the genetic material as far as I’m concerned.  The gossip that I heard was that the owners are spending $50K to clone Pablo.  Why don’t they take the $50K and give it to a shelter or to cancer research??

  I’m sorry about the day you had at work.  And I have to agree with you about the cloning.  About 10 years ago I lost the best kitty in the world.  He meant everything to me and had a genetic condition which took him from us quickly.  I saved some of his whiskers and thought that maybe one day, he could be cloned.   Then I read a few months ago that someone did indeed clone their lost cat… for $25,000.  Can you imagine how many homeless kitties could be spayed/neutered and sheltered for that kind of money?  Or how many dogs could be saved with the money spent on Pablo?   I miss my cat but the ones who are alive right now are the ones we should be caring for. Stacia

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