(DOB: 2022.04.09, Nationality: USA)

Several years ago, our family adopted a wonderful dog named Champ from our local dog warden. He was fifteen and it was up to us to make his “last couple of months” of life special. Champ left us at the incredible age of eighteen. Always having many dogs, it is a bold statement to say that Champ was one of the best family members that we have ever had. He ended up being the one that made our lives special.

We knew very little of Champ’s history, so our family would make up stories about him to fill in the blanks. He loved the snow, so we knew that he had to have run the Iditarod before he made his way to the lower forty-eight. He would open Christmas presents, something he must have been taught at that children’s hospital where he volunteered. Champ loved getting into to the trash, which was probably his junkyard dog years haunting him. And then there was the pirate ship we were sure at one point he lived on…

In creating those stories, we realized that Sinogene could, in a way, give us the ability to witness Champ’s journey through life. During one of Champ’s many vet visits, we used the kit that Sinogene sent us to get a small sample and returned it to them. Sinogene transformed a tiny clump of cells into the most magical puppy that we have named Darwin. In just a few weeks, Darwin has brightened our household in ways that we never thought possible.

For us, the answer to the “nature vs. nurture” question has been answered: nature. He of course looks the same as Champ, but in addition, Darwin also possesses an uncanny number of Champ’s traits. Top amongst them is his unwavering love and trust of everyone. Darwin lets the other dogs handle guard duty; he is here for affection, adoration, and friendship. We have learned so much about who Champ was by witnessing who Darwin is.

Do we miss Champ? Of course. Darwin, however, is following in his devoted footsteps and provides a constant reminder of the joy that Champ brought to our family.

Many thanks to the Sinogene team.

-- From John Onysko