Tom Brady: Clone dog| Dog| Cloning dog| How did clone his dog

Introduction

When we think of the elite athletes who push boundaries, the name Tom Brady immediately jumps to mind. Seven-time Super Bowl champion, sports icon, and brand powerhouse. But recently, Brady has taken headlines in a very different arena: the world of pet cloning. In November 2025, Brady revealed that his current dog, Junie, is a clone of his beloved late pit bull mix Lua, facilitated through Colossal Biosciences — a biotech company in which Brady is an investor.
This news opens a fascinating conversation: the science of dog cloning, celebrity pet culture, ethics, science, and the emotions of loss and renewal. In this 2000-word deep dive we’ll explore:

1. Who the dog Lua was, and how Brady announced the cloning.

2. The process and science behind dog cloning (and how Brady’s case fits in).

3. Why Brady opted to clone his dog, and what this means for pet-owners and the cloning industry.

4. The ethical, social, and legal questions raised.

5. What the future of pet cloning may hold — and how Brady’s involvement could change perceptions.

1. The Story of Lua & Junie

Lua was a pit bull mix adopted by Brady and his then-wife Gisele Bündchen during their marriage. The pup became part of the family, featured in social media posts and even commercial appearances. In December 2023, Lua sadly passed away, leaving behind a void in the family’s heart.

Then came the reveal: Brady announced that the new dog, Junie, is not simply a similar dog but a clone of Lua — created using a blood sample drawn from Lua before her passing. In his comment, Brady said:

“A few years ago, I worked with Colossal and leveraged their non-invasive cloning technology through a simple blood draw of our family’s elderly dog before she passed.”
He added:
“They gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog… I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family.”

The timing of the announcement was also notable: it coincided with Colossal’s acquisition of another cloning firm, Viagen Pets and Equine, known for cloning celebrity pets.

So, in essence: Brady had Lua’s genetic material preserved, engaged Colossal to use their pet-cloning tech, and now has Junie — the next chapter of that beloved companion.

2. How Does Dog Cloning Work?

To understand what Brady did, we need to look at how pet cloning works — especially dogs, which historically posed particular scientific challenges.

2.1 The Basics of Cloning

Cloning typically involves a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT): a somatic (body) cell from the “donor” animal is used; its nucleus (which holds DNA) is inserted into an enucleated egg (an egg from which the nucleus has been removed). The reconstructed cell is stimulated to begin dividing, forming an embryo, which is then implanted into a surrogate mother.
The result: an animal that is genetically identical (barring mitochondrial DNA or minor epigenetic changes) to the donor.

2.2 Why Dogs Are Hard to Clone

While cloning has been achieved for many mammals, dogs were especially tricky. The main challenges:

• Timing of canine reproductive cycles (eggs viable only during short windows).

• Difficulties in harvesting and maturing canine oocytes (eggs) outside of the body.

• Low success rates in embryo implantation and survival.

The first ever cloned dog was Snuppy, an Afghan hound, born in 2005 in South Korea.
This marked a milestone: proving that dogs, too, can be cloned. Since then, commercial pet-cloning companies (especially in South Korea, the U.S., and elsewhere) have offered cloning services for owners of deceased or aging pets.

2.3 Commercial Pet Cloning

Within the pet-cloning industry:

• Some companies offered “gene banking” (store tissue/DNA while the pet is alive).

• Then cloning is offered when the pet dies or reaches end-of-life.

• Costs are high (tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand USD).

• Success rates vary; there are also reports of health problems in cloned animals.

2.4 How Brady’s Case Fits In

In Brady’s case:

• A blood sample from Lua was collected (non-invasively) before her death.

• Through Colossal’s technologies (which absorbed Viagen), the cloning process was completed, resulting in Junie.

• Brady describes the approach as “non-invasive” and as a “second chance” for their family’s beloved dog.

All of this aligns with state-of-the-art pet-cloning services — albeit at a celebrity level and facilitated by a biotech firm that also works on species de-extinction.

3. Why Did Tom Brady Clone His Dog?

Understanding the “why” is as interesting as the “how”. For Brady, this wasn’t just about science — it was about grief, family, legacy, and pet-parent love.

3.1 The Emotional Bond

Pets are more than animals to many families — they are companions, confidantes, even family members. Lua was clearly a beloved dog for Brady and his children; her passing left a real void. By cloning her, Brady and his family have an opportunity to continue that connection in a new form.

He said:

“I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family.”
“They gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog.”

3.2 Technology as a Tool for Loss

By selecting cloning technology, Brady effectively used biotech to mitigate loss. For many pet owners, losing a dog can be deeply traumatic; the idea of “second chance” resonates. But it also raises questions: can a clone replace the original? Will the personality be the same?

Brady’s framing suggests he knows it isn’t “just an experiment” but part of his family life. In the People article:

“The company gave my family a second chance … I’m excited how [the tech] together can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species.”

3.3 Celebrity Influence and Business Side

Brady’s involvement also brings visibility to the pet-cloning business. Colossal Biosciences, with Brady as investor, isn’t just cloning pets — it’s aiming at species preservation and “de-extinction” (reviving extinct animals).
So for Brady this is not only personal but strategic: a merging of passion for pets + belief in biotech’s future.

3.4 What It Means for Pet Owners

Brady’s case signals that cloning is no longer sci-fi or purely elite. It may encourage more pet-owners to consider cloning or gene-banking. But it also highlights the cost, the emotional expectations, and potential pitfalls.

4. Ethical, Social, and Legal Questions

While the technology is remarkable, the cloning of pets opens a Pandora’s box of moral and societal considerations.

4.1 Is the Clone the Same Pet?

One key question: Can a clone truly “replace” the original dog? Genetically yes (almost identical), but environment, personality, experiences matter. The new dog may look like Lua, but will she behave the same way, smell the same, have the same quirks? Many argue the answer is “no”.
Some fans of Brady wrote that the cloning was “creepy” rather than comforting.

4.2 Animal Welfare and Success Rates

Cloning still carries risks: low success rates, health issues in clones, surrogate mother welfare, large number of embryos, etc. For instance, Snuppy’s creation involved over a thousand embryos and many surrogate mothers.
Critics argue that energy and resources used in pet cloning could instead support rescue dogs, animal welfare, shelters, etc.

4.3 Access and Cost

Cloning is expensive — effectively only accessible to wealthy individuals. Does this raise equity concerns? If only a few can afford to “get their dog back”, is that fair?

4.4 Commercialization of Life

When pet cloning becomes a business (as it is), we must ask: Is this commoditizing animals? Do we begin treating pets as replaceable or replicable? Brady’s case amplifies this question because of the celebrity/business overlap.

4.5 Broader Implications: De-extinction and Biodiversity

Colossal isn’t just making clones of pets — they’re aiming to bring back extinct animals (like the dire wolf, woolly mammoth).
The pet-cloning business thus serves as a stepping-stone to more ambitious bioengineering. But that raises huge ecosystem, ethical, regulatory concerns: if we can bring species back, should we? What are the unintended consequences?

5. The Future of Pet Cloning & What Brady’s Move Signals

Brady’s high-profile cloning announcement helps spotlight the sector. So what might the future hold — and what should pet owners and the industry keep in mind?

5.1 More Demand, More Options

As awareness grows, more pet owners may consider gene-banking (saving DNA while their dog is alive) and then cloning. Costs may come down, success rates may improve.
Also, alternative technologies may emerge (e.g., induced pluripotent stem cells, gene editing, tissue banking) that reduce risk or cost.

5.2 Regulation and Standardisation

As the industry grows, we’ll likely see more regulations around cloning: animal welfare safeguards, transparency around success rates, long-term health outcomes of clones, licensing of labs, etc.
Countries differ in whether pet cloning is legal or commercialised; those differences may become more salient.

5.3 Ethical Guidelines & Public Perception

Public sentiment will shape how the industry evolves. As seen with Brady’s case, reactions are mixed — some celebrate the second chance, others question the ethics.
We might see ethical frameworks emerge: e.g., cloning only after certain welfare criteria are met, or clear informed consent for owners about outcomes.

5.4 Cloning vs. Adoption & Rescue

One important message: cloning is not the same as adoption or rescue. Industry voices may emphasise that cloning doesn’t diminish the value of shelter dogs, but pet-owners should still consider all options.
Interestingly, as cloning becomes more visible, there might be tension between “buying a clone” vs “adopting a dog in need”.

5.5 Celebrity Influence

Brady’s endorsement/involvement could accelerate awareness and acceptance. With a figure like Brady publicly cloning his dog, the topic becomes mainstream rather than fringe. That means positive (more tech, more options) and negative (commercial hype, ethical backlash) effects.

Conclusion

In choosing to clone his late dog Lua and welcome Junie into his home, Tom Brady has done far more than make headlines — he has highlighted a convergence of love, loss, science and ethics. His decision brings pet-cloning out of the shadows and into the broader public discourse.

For pet-owners it raises real questions: if I could clone my dog, should I? Do I want a genetic copy, or do I want to honour the uniqueness of the original? For scientists and industry it pushes the field forward — for better or for worse. And for society it invites a conversation: what does it mean to replicate life, to preserve memory, and to commercialise the bond between humans and animals?

As the technology evolves, we may well live in a world where cloning pets is more commonplace — cheaper, easier, more reliable. But the core truth remains: the bond between owner and dog will always transcend genetics. A clone may share appearance and DNA, but the essence — the personality shaped by years, the quirks, the shared moments — that is irreplaceably unique.