PLEA TO SAVE HUSKIES

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 3

PLEA TO SAVE HUSKIES

If a decision was made to discontinue the use of huskies at Scott Base all the young dogs should be brought to New Zealand, Mr R. K. Mcßride said in Christchurch yesterday. For 13 months Mr Mcßride, of Blenheim, has been the dog handler and photographer at the base. He said that young huskies would have no difficulty adapting to the wanner climate of New Zealand. He was quite sure the huskies— "those great friendly buffoons" — would have no trouble finding homes in New Zealand. It would cost no more to feed a husky than any other large dog. Although they might fight among themselves from time to time, the huskies when in the company of man were not aggressive, he said. The future of the Scott Base dogs is doubtful because of the increasing use of motor toboggans. “They are magnificent animals. and they have played a tremendous part in the life of the base—and not just for the recreational value on sled trips. A person often needs something to lavish a bit of affection on. and many times you will see a man wander over to the dog lines to say hello and pat a dog. Now you couldn’t do that with a tractor,” Mr Mcßride said. Mr Mcßride was the last of the winter party to leave Scott Base. The husky team gave their master a farewell journey across the ice to the Hercules aircraft which brought him to Christchurch. The photograph shows Mr Mcßride with one of the huskies.