Have you ever wondered why your dog spins around when they’re excited or if your cat truly enjoys your company? Jay Ingram’s latest book, The Science of Pets, delves into these questions and more through rigorous research and insightful storytelling.
“We are entering an unprecedented era of pet ownership. Both the global demand for pets and the variety of animals bred or captured to satisfy that demand are going through the roof,” Ingram told CBC Books via email.
“At the same time, we’re just starting to gain insights into how pets think and feel. What we need now is a better understanding of our side of the relationship.”
Ingram, the former host of CBC Radio’s Quirks & Quarks, is based in Victoria and has authored 20 books, translated into 15 languages, including The Science of Why series. He received the Walter C. Alvarez Award from the American Medical Writers’ Association in 2015 and is a Member of the Order of Canada.
In his signature engaging style, Ingram makes science accessible, connecting it to everyday life and the pets we cherish. The Science of Pets explores how pet ownership impacts the natural world, the mystery of when humans first kept pets, and how studying animals ultimately reveals more about ourselves.
One of the book’s most intriguing sections examines the controversial practice of pet cloning. From the first cloned cat, C.C., in 2001 to over a thousand cloned dogs today, cloning has grown into a booming industry. Celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton have had their beloved pets cloned, raising ethical concerns and questions about the process.
Cloning has long fascinated scientists, dating back to John Gurdon’s Nobel Prize-winning research on frog cloning in the 1960s. Since then, it has expanded beyond scientific curiosity to commercial applications, including genetically enhanced livestock and even robotic-assisted cloning in China.
Despite advancements, cloning remains unpredictable. The first cloned dog, Snuppy, was born in 2005, but his clone and others have faced mixed survival rates. While some scientists see medical potential in cloning dogs with genetic defects similar to humans, the consumer-driven side of pet cloning raises debates about expectations, ethics, and the importance of adopting shelter animals.
Barbra Streisand, devastated by the loss of her beloved dog Sammie, turned to cloning for comfort. ViaGen, an American pet cloning company, produced four puppies from Sammie’s DNA at a cost of $50,000. Streisand kept one, gave two away, and mourned the one that didn’t survive.
With The Science of Pets, Jay Ingram sheds light on the complex relationships between humans and their furry companions, blending humor, research, and compelling narratives. The book is set for release on November 4, 2025.
Source: Swifteradio.com
