For famous singer and actress Barbra Streisand, her dog, Samantha, is more than just her pet. She was her best friend and her family.
They were inseparable, and they shared 14 years of companionship and love. Hence, when Samantha got severely ill in 2017, Barbra was devastated.
Barbra knew that something inevitable was about to happen, but she could not bear the thought of losing her dear Samantha. It was difficult for her to let her longtime companion go. So, when she heard from one of her friends that cloning dogs are a possibility, she decided to take action.
Samantha was a rare curly-haired Coton de Tulear, and Barbra felt that she should continue her lineage. The celebrity also thought that letting Samantha go would be easier if she can keep a part of her alive. Hence, she felt that cloning Samantha was the best thing to do.
Cloning Samantha
Before Samantha died, cloning experts collected cells from the dog’s stomach and cheeks. They took the samples to the lab, but they could not guarantee the procedure. While waiting for the results, Barbra decided to adopt a puppy and named her Miss Fanny.
Miss Fanny already reminded Barbra of Samantha, but she wanted the procedure to work so bad. And, when she heard that the cloning process was successful, she was glad that she could have puppies who looked exactly like her cherished pet.
The cloning experts came out with four clones, but sadly one of the puppies did not survive. Barbra gave one up for adoption, and she kept the other two. She named them Miss Scarlett and Miss Violet.
The singer spent an estimated amount of $100,000 for the procedure. She received criticisms for her action, but she did not mind them at all. Barbra felt that every pet lover would understand why she needed to do it.
However, despite looking exactly like Samantha, the new puppies don’t behave exactly like her. Barbra learned that cloning could only copy Samantha’s looks but not her soul. She still misses her dearest Samantha, but she will also love and take care of her new pets.
Photo credits to Barbra Streisand via Instagram.
