{
  "id": 14917487,
  "title": "Can’t bear to say goodbye to your pet? Biotech’s got you covered.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/cant-bear-to-say-goodbye-to-your-pet-biotechs-got-you-covered",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MIT Technology Review",
    "slug": "mit-technology-review",
    "url": "https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/10/16/1146766/pet-biotech-longevity-cloning-cryonics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I remember Peppy, the cat that once brought me joy. I can still recall the feeling of petting her, the way she got stuck in trees, and the unfortunate incident of her using my baby sister's crib. The day she vanished was a tragedy; at ten years old, I searched high and low for her, but to no avail. Nearly three decades later, pet owners now have numerous options to potentially extend their time with their beloved animals. Drugs, cloning, and cryonics are among the possibilities. The market for pet preservation is growing, and biotech companies are dedicating resources to prolonging pet lifespans. Loyal, a company focused on longevity drugs for dogs, is testing one to improve metabolic health in approximately 1,300 pet dogs in the US. Other companies are developing drugs for dogs that target age-related diseases and aging itself. Similarly, there's a company focusing on longevity medicines for cats. While I mourn Peppy's passing, I am not keen on the idea of cloning, a relatively new option for pet owners. Cloning involves taking a pet's DNA and inserting it into an egg cell from another animal of the same species, creating a genetic twin. Companies like Viagen Pets offer this service for $50,000. While cloning can provide a sense of continuity, I can't help but think that childhood pet loss is unique. It's often the first time a child grapples with death. Losing Peppy was a profound experience, teaching me the finality of death, which I wouldn't want to erase for my own children. Pet cryonics, which involves preserving a pet's body at extremely low temperatures in the hope of future revival, is another option. However, the chances of reanimating a pet through cryonics are slim. I miss Peppy, but I believe I would not subject her to cryogenic preservation or consider cloning to replace her.",
  "summary": "I don’t remember much about Peppy, my first and only pet cat. I can conjure the sensation of stroking her while she purred, recall how she used to get stuck in trees (just like in cartoons!), and chuckle about the time she pooed in my baby sister’s cot. That’s about it. What I do vividly…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MIT Tech Review Biotech",
        "title": "Can’t bear to say goodbye to your pet? Biotech’s got you covered.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/cant-bear-to-say-goodbye-to-your-pet-biotechs-got-you-covered",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}