Tom Brady couldn’t say goodbye to his dog, so he opted for an expensive and controversial ‘second chance’

Tom Brady just dropped a massive revelation about his furry new family member, the adorable dog Junie. That dog is actually a clone of his beloved late pet, Lua. This news is absolutely wild, but honestly, if you’ve ever lost a furry best friend, you completely understand the desire to bring them back. It’s a morally complex issue, sure, but for Brady and his family, it means more time with a deeply loved companion.

The retired NFL star, 48, made the official announcement this Tuesday in a joint statement with Colossal Biosciences. They’re the company he partnered with to make the whole procedure happen. It turns out that this isn’t just a random transaction, either. Brady is actually an investor in Colossal Biosciences, which gives him a vested interest in the success of this cutting-edge technology.

He was pretty enthusiastic about getting this opportunity, gushing over the ability to have a “second chance” with his family’s beloved dog. Per People, Brady explained that his love for his pets runs deep. He said, “I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family.”

Tom Brady cloned his dog

If you’re wondering how this sci-fi process works, Brady confirmed they started planning before Lua even passed away. The Super Bowl winner worked with Colossal to use a “non-invasive cloning technology” that only required a simple blood draw from the family’s elderly dog. That’s a key detail. They took the sample before Lua died in December 2023, ensuring they had the necessary DNA to create Junie.

The original dog, Lua, was a pit bull mix who was a huge part of Brady’s life when he was married to Gisele Bündchen. When Lua passed away nearly two years ago, the loss was clearly devastating for the entire family. Bündchen shared a super emotional tribute on Instagram at the time, referring to the dog as their “guardian angel.”

She wrote that their “little Lulu… will forever live in our hearts. We already miss her sooooo much!” Brady was equally heartbroken, posting his own tribute in a story saying, “We love you Lua, RIP.” This background context makes the decision to clone totally understandable, even if it is incredibly expensive and somewhat controversial.

This announcement also comes at an interesting time for the cloning industry. Colossal Biosciences has apparently been expanding its footprint in the pet space because it recently acquired Viagen Pets and Equine. This is a big deal because Viagen is the company that previously handled some of the most famous pet cloning cases.

They’re responsible for cloning Barbra Streisand’s dog, Samantha, and also Paris Hilton’s missing pup, Diamond Baby. That history shows us that pet cloning isn’t just for the ultra-rich anymore; it’s becoming a genuine option for those who are struggling to say goodbye.