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Have you ever said, "Boy, my dog is so great I wish I had two of him."

Here's your chance.

In celebration of BioArts International (www.bioarts.com) successfully cloning the beloved family pet of CEO Lou Hawthorne, there will be a global online auction to clone five dogs.

The auction will be July 5-9, with a high bidder notified on each day. First-day bidding will begin at $100,000 with the initial price increasing on each successive day. Participants must register at www.bestfriendsagain.com.

What? You say you can't even afford $100,000?

Don't despair.

You still have time to enter the Golden Clone Giveaway. BioArts International and the Best Friends Again program will give away one free cloning to someone who they feel is deserving.

By Tuesday, June 24, contestants must complete an entry form explaining in 500 words why their dogs deserve to be cloned. Visit www.bestfriendsagain.com for details.

The giveaway idea came about because lots of people can't afford the auction. So Hawthorne decided to try to find the most "cloneworthy" dog.

BioArts International holds the only worldwide license for the cloning of dogs, cats and endangered species. The Best Friends Again program is a partnership between BioArts and the world's most experienced dog cloning team, Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea.

Which brings me to my question.

Will it really be your beloved dog all over again? Or will it be a copy that doesn't quite have all the life experiences that formed your first pet?

And would you want to clone a pet?

Caring decision

If you don't want to bring back a favorite pet, just make sure your favorite pet is provided for in case you go first.

A Florida company, www.ItsMyLife.com has Pets Letter of Wishes, a new document for pet owners to express their wishes and name a caregiver for their pet in case they should become ill or die.

How many times have perfectly good pets ended up in a shelter because of the death of an owner? I know several people who have gotten wonderful pets this way.

But what happens if no one stumbles upon your left-behind pet? Would you want to risk having your dog euthanized?

Pets Letter of Wishes is a less expensive way — instead of a legal trust or will — for pet owners who truly want proper protection for beloved pets now.

A pet owner can go to the Web site and create a document that explains his or her wishes. Although it's not a legal document, Jon Sayers, co-founder of www.ItsMyLife.com, said it is a "powerful statement" that can help make decisions for courts, executors and powers of attorney.

The Pets Letter of Wishes can be printed instantly, then signed and witnessed. It should be stored with other important documents ready to be accessed, should it ever be needed.

The document costs $19.95 and is good for 12 months.

Adopt a shelter cat

There's still time to adopt a shelter cat.

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month and the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals in Kettering is offering cat lovers lovable cats for adoption for $45, which includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, micro-chipping and other services. If you adopt a cat over the age of 6, it's $30.

Adopting shelter cats is good for the soul, good for the community and good for the cat.