Spam Of The Week - Saint Francis Life Continuation Sanctuaries - Brief Article - Column

Brandweek, March 19, 2001 by Becky Ebenkamp

"Your pet may be the closest and most devoted companion you have ... the friend you most often frolic with ... the last creature you speak to before you go to sleep." So begins the tugging-at-the-heart-and-wallet-strings pitch on the Web site for Saint Francis Life Continuation Sanctuaries, a link that came courtesy of an unsolicited email.

Milking the interest in four-legged-friends and banking on the idea that even the most ADD-addled mailbox skimmer would snap to attention at the enticing subject line "Pet Cloning"--hell, it got me--the email links to the Coachella, Calif.-based Saint Francis site, which contains photos of adorable puppies and kitties, and a plea to "preserve your pet's living cells now at one of our sanctuaries" until "scientists have established procedures with which to clone." For a small fee, naturally.

"You no longer have to say goodbye to your pet...no longer have to tell your children they'll never see their beloved pet again," the syrupy soft sell continues.

Now the refreshing nature of this email was enough to qualify as spam of the week--it stood out among the many "Hot Sexy Teens!" and "Instant Financing!" messages clogging the old inbox. But Saint Francis went over the top by throwing in a "Free Pet Cloning" to a lucky drawing winner. Sorry hamsters and other neglected members of the animal kingdom--the offer applies only to cats, dogs and horses, which bums me out in a big way: Quite frankly, I don't know how much longer I can continue to keep Walt Disney's head on ice.