After losing their beloved dog Edgar and Nina Otto got the chance to do what’s only been done a few times before. They had their Yellow Labrador Retriever cloned, dubbing him “Lancelot Encore.”

This little miracle of science cost the Otto’s $155,000 dollars, and has some people questioning their decision. The Otto’s live on a 12-acre spread in West Boca, FL along with a small menagerie, including many other dogs, but they always felt there was something different about Lancelot.

Lancelot always occupied a special place in their hearts: Edgar called Lancelot “an unbelievable, humanlike dog, a true companion.” Thus the Otto’s had the foresight to have DNA frozen from Lancelot six years ago.

Then, last June – six months after Lance’s death – they learned the Northern California biotech firm BioArts International was holding a dog-cloning auction. They threw their hat in the ring, and won.

The cloning didn’t come cheap - the Otto’s shelled out $155,000 for the opportunity. But it worked. BioArts partnered with Dr. Hwang S Woo-Suk, of the South Korea biotech research firm Sooam, to bring a second Lancelot into the Otto household.

The Otto’s aren’t hurting for money, Edgar’s father was the co-founder of NASCAR, and he started a successful medical company.  Although the couple did say that Nina sold some of her jewelry to help pay for the creation of Lancelot Encore.  So, should they be questioned about what they do with their money? Would someone question if he bought a Lamborghini instead of a Ford?

Edgar Otto donates considerable sums to his local Humane Society, he has also promised if they choose an 11th dog it will come from a shelter. I personally would choose to use the $155,000 to help dogs that were already here, although I understand missing your dog so much that you want an exact duplicate.

What would you do with the money? Give me a bark.

* Photo courtesy Today Show, msnbc.msn.com.

I want to thank Michelle for sending me this great story out of Glendale, AZ.

The first crisis dog to be used by any fire department in the nation was there to comfort seven children involved in a car accident.

When emergency workers discovered seven children were involved, Topaz, a 1 1/2-year-old yellow Labrador was called into action.

The dog just arrived in the Valley from Michigan and the accident was one of his first. The Glendale Fire Department got Topaz from Paws With A Cause and he’s still in training.

“The scientific evidence shows they help lower blood pressure,” said Lanette Jelinek, the dog’s handler. “Just petting them. Animals have a very calming affect.”

Police said none of the children inside the pickup was injured. The children said they found the dog comforting.

Is there any end to how dogs help better our lives?  This sounds like a wonderful idea and hopefully will catch on around the country.

This is a very disturbing story, not easy to post. Even harder to read.

The purpose of putting this on the blog is to bring attention to this case and help get these people prosecuted.

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — A man and woman under investigation for allegedly attempting to euthanize their 13-year-old dog with a hammer have been arrested on animal abuse charges.

Long and his daughter, Susan, were charged after they hit their Labrador mix, Molly, on the head with a hammer and then buried her up to her neck in their back yard.

Long told KGW Monday he thought the dog had cancer.

Family members previously told KGW they didn’t have the money to pay to euthanize their dog.

But on Monday Long said his daughter had been afraid to take the dog to a veterinarian due to concern she would be accused of animal abuse.

He said they were trying to put it out of its misery and that when they buried Molly they thought she was dead.

But a neighbor later heard the dog yelping and called 9-1-1.

Forest Grove Police responded Friday afternoon to a report of a dog buried alive at a house on Laurel Street. The father and daughter were not at the home when police arrived; they had gone out to dinner.

Capt. Ashbaugh said police entered the back yard and found the dog buried up to its neck with an obvious head injury.

Long and Johnson claimed at the time they’d buried Molly in a hole “in an apparent attempt to limit the amount of blood on their property,” Ashbaugh said.

Molly ended up being euthanized because it was too late to save her.  Dogsters, we need to make sure there is never another Molly, this story is tragic and should never have happened. We are now the voice for Molly, the only one she has.

I urge everyone to contact the Washington County District Attorney, Robert Hermann, and demand justice for Molly.  Contact the D.A.’s  office at 503-846-8671 or via email at webmaster@co.washington.or.us.