Trakr Cloned. No, It's Not One of Sarah Palin's Kids.

The California company BioArts announced yesterday that it had cloned Trakr, a 9-11 canine hero, with the help of South Korean cloning specialist Hwang Woo-Suk (who has caused some controversy by saying that he could totally clone Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, or Trig if he felt like it).

Trakr's owner, who won a contest sponsored by the cloning company, said:

"They're identical—down to the smallest detail. Few dogs are born with exceptional abilities—Trakr was one of those dogs. And if these puppies have the same attributes as Trakr, I plan on putting them into search and rescue so they can help people the way Trakr did."

It may be a marketing gimmick, but it's not a vanity project. The usual suspects are freaking out, but coverage has been overwhelmingly positive. After all, what could possibly win more hearts and minds over to the cause of cloning than five adorable hero puppies?

Read Greg Beato on cloning dogs for love and profit.