Cloning once seemed like science fiction, but its use is rapidly expanding. Despite serious animal welfare concerns, public opposition, and lack of data on human health effects: farm animals are cloned for food production, pets are cloned in an attempt to replace a beloved companion, and an increasing number of animals are being cloned for biomedical research.

The Animal Welfare Act does not cover farm animals used in cloning or agricultural research. This lack of oversight has consequences. Dolly, the first cloned farm animal, born in 1996, lived for a mere 6 years fraught with serious health problems. She was the only successful birth out of 277 attempts involving 13 surrogate mothers. Since then, the welfare of cloned farm animals has not improved, yet cloned animal products are now on store shelves. We can all help end abuse of farm animals by making stores and food companies aware that the majority of U.S. consumers are opposed to cloning.

The pet cloning industry targets grieving pet owners who desperately want their pet alive again. If the cloned animal survives, they may not even physically resemble the deceased pet yet alone replicate their unique and endearing traits. Our companion animal friends are irreplaceable. We can best honor them by helping local shelter animals find loving, safe homes.