Losing a pet is pretty much the same as losing a relative. While it may sound ridiculous to those unfortunate individuals who have grown up in an animal-less household, it rings true to those who have had pets and, more specifically, owned dogs. There is a reason that dogs are branded as man's best friend; they're loyal, loving and often hilarious companions who become part of the family over the years.
One woman who knows all too well about the grief of losing a dog is Barbra Streisand. The 75-year-old, who is one of the most renowned artists on the planet, lost her beloved dog Samantha last year. However, not one to easily let go of a loved one, before the dog died, Streisand decided to take cells from its teeth and stomach in order to clone the dog after its passing... seriously.
While this may sound completely bonkers to me and you, cloning is something that is becoming increasingly popular for those lucky people who can afford it. Since Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be cloned in 1996, the process has become more popular, with fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg and her husband Barry Diller cloning their Jack Russell terrier Shannon and paying a reported $100,000 to have the procedure done in 2016.
Obviously, given her net worth stands at an estimated $390 million, Streisand is one of those people who can easily afford to get their animals cloned. But, the singer is also a notorious diva and, in true Streisand attitude, she decided to get her dog cloned not once, but twice.
In an interview with Variety Magazine, the songstress revealed that two of her dogs, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, had been cloned from her old Coton du Tulear Samantha.
“They have different personalities,” Streisand says. “I’m waiting for them to get older so I can see if they have her [Samantha’s] brown eyes and seriousness.”
Streisand's third dog is a distant cousin of Samantha's. When a breeder brought the dog, whose mother had been named 'Funny Girl' after the movie, Streisand was left smitten by it. She decided to adopt the new dog and called her Miss Fanny, which is how Fanny Brice's dresser refers to the character in the film.
Due to the fact that the dogs look so similar, Streisand dresses them in outfits in order to tell them apart. The dogs are called Miss Scarlett and Miss Violet, which refers to the outfits that they wear, and all three of them regularly appear on Streisand's Instagram feed.
If you're thinking about exploring the idea of getting your animal cloned in order to prolong your relationship, be warned - it will set you back around $100,000. Also, while it may seem like a good idea at the time, it is sort of like having a real life zombie dog in your house. I mean, you have literally seen that animal die and then 'come back to life.'