Calif. bill to ban cloned pet sales killed

SACRAMENTO, May 4 (UPI) -- A California General Assembly committee struck down an attempt to make it illegal to buy cloned pets in the state.

The measure, introduced by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, sought to ban the sale of cloned pets because of the potential for taking advantage of grieving pet owners and also unnecessary in a state that euthanizes millions of unwanted dogs and cats each year.

But the Assembly Business and Professional Committee voted 4-2, with four abstentions, Tuesday to keep the bill from advancing out of the committee.

One witness said "animals can't be replaced like a printer" but Lou Hawthorne, chief executive officer of Genetic Savings & Clone, pointed to the hope of cloning to help sustain endangered species, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Hawthorne's company charges about $23,000 to clone a cat and is to offer a similar service involving dogs by December.

Levin, who told the newspaper the issue should be decided on the national level, said: "Life is more than a commodity and this is where we draw the line. Just because we can doesn't mean we should."