Tom Brady reveals new dog Junie is a clone of beloved Lua, who died in 2023

Tom Brady recently shared some heartfelt news about his new dog, Junie, revealing that she is actually a clone of his late pet, Lua, who passed away in 2023. Lua held a special place in Brady’s heart, having been adopted back in 2014 by him and his then-wife, Gisele Bündchen. The beloved pitbull mix was a loyal companion for many years, and her passing came just a year after the couple finalized their divorce in 2022. Brady, now a sports commentator after his legendary football career, explained that the cloning was made possible through a Texas-based biotech startup called Colossal Biosciences. Interestingly, Brady is also an investor in Colossal, which recently acquired Viagen Pets & Equine, a company known globally for cloning famous pets like Paris Hilton’s dog Diamond and Barbra Streisand’s dog Samantha. The new dog, Junie, was created using what Brady described as a “non-invasive cloning technology” that only required a simple blood draw from Lua before she passed away. The cloning process took just a few months, giving Brady and his family what he called a “second chance” with Lua’s clone. He emphasized how much animals mean to him and his family, sharing a statement about their deep bond and the comfort Junie brings. Beyond just personal reasons, Brady expressed excitement about how the combination of Colossal and Viagen’s technology can provide solace to families coping with pet loss, while also having broader implications for conservation efforts. Colossal Biosciences is not just focused on pet cloning; they refer to themselves as “the world’s de-extinction company.” Earlier this year, in April, they announced a breakthrough where they successfully restored the dire wolf species, which had been extinct for roughly 12,500 years, using advanced cloning and gene-editing techniques. This highlights the company’s commitment to leveraging biotechnology not only for companion animals but also for endangered species and ecological restoration. Tom Brady’s involvement as both a client and investor underscores a growing interest in cloning technologies and their potential applications. The merging of Colossal’s cutting-edge science with Viagen’s cloning expertise marks a significant development in the field, pointing toward a future where bringing back extinct species or cloning beloved pets could become more accessible and ethically accepted. For Brady, Junie is more than just a pet; she’s a living reminder of the love and memories tied to Lua, bridging the past and the future through science.