Hero Dog Wins Cloning Contest

A retired Canadian rescue dog who helped find the last survivor in the rubble of the World Trade Center has been chosen as the world's most clone-worthy dog, the Globe & Mail reports. A California genetics company chose 15-year-old German shepherd Trakr to be cloned after reading an essay from his owner. Trakr—who now needs a dog wheelchair to get around—will meet his clone later this year.

Pet cloning is expected to soon become big business. While experts warn that upbringing plays a bigger role in determining doggie personality than genes, Trakr's owner is excited about his dog's double. "If he shows even 70% of what Tracker had as far as skills, intuition and courage, then I'm going to dust off my search-and-rescue gear and we'll go back to work," said the Canadian ex-cop. (More dog stories.)