Magician Spends £46K to Clone Scots Dog for Las Vegas Residency
Comic magician Piff The Magic Dragon has secured a Las Vegas residency with a cloned dog after featuring on America’s Got Talent alongside his Dundee-born rescue dog Mr Piffles in 2015. Mr Piffles, who is 17 years old, is set to retire soon due to old age after delighting audiences worldwide for over 15 years. John van der Put, also known as Piff, has been on the hunt for a replacement for Mr Piffles for over seven years but could not find a dog that matched the same high standards as his beloved pooch.
In a bold move to replicate Mr Piffles, Piff has invested £46,000 ($60,000) to have scientists clone a new dog named Fortune, or as he fondly calls him, Mr Piffles 2.0, using DNA from the original Mr Piffles. The two identical dogs will share the stage next week before the original pup begins his retirement. Piff expressed his excitement about this unique venture, stating, “Vegas has spawned many firsts, but never in the history of entertainment has there been a cloned performer.”
John van der Put rescued Mr Piffles from Dundee during his first visit to the Edinburgh Festival in 2008, and the pair have since performed at the Edinburgh Fringe multiple times. Speaking about their bond, John mentioned, “He took to [showbusiness] like a duck to water, and we’ve been inseparable since. We’ve been together for seven years now. It’s my longest relationship.”
Piff’s career skyrocketed after his appearance on Penn & Teller’s show Fool Us in 2011 and peaked when he became a finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2015, earning admiration from judges Howard Stern and Heidi Klum. With this latest development of cloning Mr Piffles, Piff is set to make entertainment history in Las Vegas with his double act.
In conclusion, the news of a magician cloning his beloved dog for a Las Vegas residency has sparked interest and conversation within the entertainment industry. Piff’s innovative approach to ensuring the continuation of his act while honouring his longtime companion showcases a blend of technology and showmanship. This story highlights the deep bond between performers and their animal counterparts, as well as the lengths individuals are willing to go to preserve their legacy in the world of entertainment.