Tom Brady’s Stunning Confession: His New Dog Junie is a Clone of Beloved Lua

Tom Brady’s Stunning Confession: His New Dog Junie is a Clone of Beloved Lua

When Tom Brady introduced his playful new dog Junie to the world, few could have guessed the emotional truth behind those soulful brown eyes. Nearly two years after saying goodbye to Lua, the pit bull mix he shared with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen and their children, Brady revealed that Junie isn’t just any rescue — she’s a genetic twin of Lua, born through cloning.

The news broke on November 4, 2025, the same day that Brady’s biotech investment firm, Colossal Biosciences, announced it had acquired Viagen Pets & Equine — the Texas-based company known for cloning Barbra Streisand’s dog Samantha and Paris Hilton’s lost pet Diamond Baby.

“I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family,” Brady said in a statement. “Before Lua passed, we took a simple blood draw using Colossal’s non-invasive cloning technology. They gave my family a second chance.”

For Brady — who built his career on discipline and second acts — the moment was deeply personal. Lua had been by his side through Super Bowl victories, family milestones, and his highly publicized divorce. Her death in 2023 left what friends described as “a quiet ache” in the Brady household.

Now, Junie brings that familiar energy back — but through the most futuristic means imaginable.

Inside the Science: How Tom Brady’s Dog Was Cloned

The process, while extraordinary, is no longer science fiction. Viagen Pets & Equine — now part of Colossal Biosciences — uses cells taken from a pet before its death to create a genetic duplicate. The clone isn’t the same animal spiritually or behaviorally, but it shares the identical DNA sequence.

Brady’s announcement coincided with Colossal’s continued “de-extinction” mission, which includes efforts to revive the woolly mammoth and dodo bird. For the NFL legend, though, cloning isn’t about the past — it’s about family.

“This technology gives comfort to families mourning a beloved animal,” said Colossal CEO Ben Lamm. “And it pushes forward our conservation goals — protecting species that might otherwise disappear forever.”

Still, the concept of cloning a pet, particularly one so beloved, raises profound ethical and legal questions.

The Legal Gray Zone of Pet Cloning: Who Really Owns a Clone?

The idea of “bringing back” a beloved animal might sound like a miracle. But legally, cloned pets live in an uncertain space. In most U.S. jurisdictions, cloned animals are treated as property, not as individual sentient beings — a fact that complicates both ownership and welfare protections.

According to Attorney Joanna Grossman, an animal law expert at SMU Dedman School of Law,

“Cloned pets exist in what I call a ‘legal twilight zone.’ There’s no specific statute governing their ownership, health disclosures, or the ethical limits of replication. Consumers are largely unprotected if something goes wrong.”

That “something” could range from health defects common in cloned animals to disputes over genetic ownership. If a lab retains DNA samples, for example, could it theoretically produce more clones without the owner’s consent? Currently, no federal law prevents it.

The Animal Welfare Act, first passed in 1966, does require basic humane treatment of animals used in research or breeding, but it doesn’t address cloning directly. Meanwhile, only a handful of states — like California and New York — have begun to explore pet cloning disclosure laws, requiring companies to inform customers of potential genetic and medical risks.

For the average person inspired by Brady’s story, that’s the crucial takeaway: the emotional promise of pet cloning far exceeds the legal protections surrounding it.

What You Should Know Before Cloning a Pet

• There are no federal consumer protections governing pet cloning services.

• DNA rights remain ambiguous, and your pet’s genetic material could be reused or stored indefinitely.

• Success rates vary — according to Viagen, only a small percentage of cloned embryos survive to birth.

As animal rights attorney David Favre of Michigan State University once noted,

“We’ve entered an era where love and loss are colliding with biotechnology. The law hasn’t caught up with the heart.”

Until it does, families choosing to clone their pets are stepping into uncharted legal and emotional territory — where science can recreate DNA, but not the soul.

Why Brady’s Story Resonates So Deeply

Brady’s journey isn’t just about innovation — it’s about grief, nostalgia, and the human desire to hold on. After losing Lua, both he and Gisele Bündchen posted emotional tributes on Instagram, calling her “our guardian angel” and “forever in our hearts.”

When Brady walks Junie now, he sees Lua’s familiar tilt of the head, the same bounding energy at the sound of his voice. But beneath the joy is a deeper question — what does it mean to love something reborn by science?

For millions of pet owners reading his story, that question lingers. And as the cloning industry grows — now valued at over $5 billion globally by 2030, according to Grand View Research — the intersection of law, love, and life will only grow more complex.

Reader Takeaway

Tom Brady’s cloned dog Junie symbolizes both the beauty and the ethical tension of modern biotechnology. While cloning offers hope to grieving families, it also exposes the legal loopholes surrounding animal rights and genetic ownership.

In the end, Lua’s story — and Junie’s new life — remind us of one truth science can’t replicate: love is the real legacy that outlives us all.

Tom Brady Dog Clone FAQ's

1. Is a cloned dog, like Junie, an exact duplicate of the original pet, Lua?

Answer: No. While a cloned pet shares the identical DNA sequence with the original animal, it is not an exact duplicate. The article explains that the clone, Junie, shares the same genetic material, but the clone's personality, behavior, and "soul" are unique. Like identical twins, its development and temperament are heavily influenced by its environment, experiences, and the complex interaction of genes and external factors.

2. What are the key legal risks and ethical concerns a pet owner should know before cloning an animal?

Answer: The article highlights several critical risks due to a "legal twilight zone" in US law:

• Lack of Protection: There are no federal consumer protection laws governing pet cloning services, leaving consumers largely unprotected if health defects or other issues arise.
• Ownership Ambiguity: Cloned pets are generally treated as property (not sentient beings), complicating ownership and welfare protections.
• DNA Rights: The rights to the pet's genetic material are ambiguous, meaning the cloning lab could potentially reuse or store the DNA indefinitely without the owner's consent.
• Animal Welfare: The cloning process itself is inefficient, with only a small percentage of embryos surviving to birth, raising significant animal welfare concerns regarding the surrogate animals used.