A woman cloned a deceased dog for $50,000 and now regrets her decision (5 photos)

Venessa Johnson, 48, of Claremont, California, admitted that she spent tens of thousands of dollars cloning her deceased Shih Tzu and realized it didn't bring her the relief she desired.





In December 2024, Johnson's dog, Oliver, died after a two-year battle with aggressive cancer. Johnson said the loss left her completely devastated. She stopped working, eating, and sleeping, and was then forced to move in with her parents while she struggled to cope with the grief.

While researching pet loss, Johnson came across Viagen, a company offering cloning services. In a state of severe emotional distress, she decided to save a "piece" of Oliver.



"I felt like cloning was a lifeline," she recalls.

Despite the dog's body being frozen, specialists managed to create a viable embryo. On the third attempt, the surrogate mother carried three puppies, one of which was a genetic copy of Oliver.





The procedure cost Johnson $50,000. To pay for the cloning, she had to find extra work, accept help from loved ones, and launch a fundraiser.

But almost 11 months have passed, and Johnson admits she wouldn't make the same choice now.

"This isn't Oliver. It's a part of him, but it's not him. If I'd gotten over my grief properly, I would have just adopted an older dog from the shelter, like I always did," she said.

In November 2025, Johnson traveled to Rochester to pick up a clone she named Ollie. However, her emotions were mixed. The puppy looked almost identical to her beloved pet, which was both heartwarming and deeply painful.

"I was overwhelmed by the feeling of loss all over again," she admits.



After the explosive online backlash, Johnson faced a wave of negativity. Many criticized her for spending tens of thousands of dollars on cloning instead of helping shelter animals. She says she understands and even shares these concerns. She hopes that animal cloning does not become a widespread practice.

Now, after training a new puppy, the American woman plans to take care of older dogs and use her experience to raise awareness about the problems of shelters.