KENNEL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21783, 27 July 1934, Page 2

KENNEL NOTES

[By T’Aii.-wAGCun.]

The annual social held. last Saturday night in the O.K. Cafe by the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club adds another successful function to the credit of this progressive body. Dancing, card playing, and musical items made the evening most enjoyable for everyone. During the evening the prizes won by the local exhibitors were presented, after which supper was partaken of. Air L E. Lawrence, who recently arrived in Dunedin from Al’Nab, brought with him that fine Alsatian bitch Dawn Dinier of Clutha. . Dawn wag bred by Mr E. G. Addis, the sire being Hillside Liberty and the dam Peg of Clutha. Air Lawrence sent Dawn on on a visit to Airs A. Simon’s eh Knight of Lorraine ch Bcndic of Scriventon ex Sheila of Allahclale, and the result was nine puppies. Unfortunately, as the result of Cold weather, five of the puppies died, leaving two grey and sable dogs and one bitch of the same’ colour, while the remaining one is black and fawn. This litter should find a ready market, ns it is not only bred for snowing, but also for temperament. Dawn was formerly . owned by Air L. Surridge, of Wellington, who showed her with great success. A record of thirty-seven times placed out of thirtyeight times shown is to the credit of this nice bitch. Air S. Lawson, of Alornington, has purchased from Air AV. H. Trengrove, Featherston, a classy six months’ old Irish setter. This breed is becoming very popular here, and competition should be quite keen at future shows. Mr H. Hungerford, of Queen street, owner of that good Irish setter, Major Doon, intends making the trip to the Oamaru show, where Air J. Soler is to judge. Airs Grieg, who has been seriously ill for some considerable time, is, I am pleased to say, well on live road to recovery. She is going across to Sydney for a holiday, and the writer would not be surprised to see her return with another Cairn terrier to add to her kennel. RIN TIN TIN. A ten-year-old fancier, and one who evidently* has a big fancy for the muchdiscussed Alsatian breed, has handed in the following story of Rin Tin Tin, the famous dog film star; — “ Rin Tin Tin, the famous dog film star, was born in the trenches during the Great War, his mother being one Of the Alsatian dogs who was Used to carry messages behind the lines. When some American soldiers first found tier with her babies, Rin Tin Tin’s mother was so fierce that she would not let anyone go near the puppies. When she found the men brought food for her little family and never hurt them, she became more tame, until, gradually, she let the men come right up to her home —a hole in the ground—and pick the puppies up. One day, whilst she was searching for food, she was killed by a shell, and the puppies were left without a mother. The American soldiers decided to look after the puppies themselves, and divided them out, Lieutenant Lee Duncan getting a puppy lie called Rin Tin Tin, and another whom he named Nanette. “ When the war was over and Lieutenant Duncan returned to America, he took his two dogs with him. Nanette was never very strong, however, and soon after they got' to America she died. Poor ‘ Uinty ’ was so sad without liis sister that Lieutenant Duncan began to look for another dog to take her place, and .finally got a beautiful police dog, which he called Nanette, after Rinty’s dead sister. Nanette and Rinty liked, each other from the-first', and after a time Nanette became the dog star’s mate. They have a lovely home in the Beverly Hills with their master, and now have half a- dozen lovely little puppies to keep them conipany. “When Lieutenant Duncan first tried to get Rin Tin on the screen none of the film producers would hear of it. They had never had a dog film before, and they did not think ‘ .Rinty ’ was clever enough to make pictures. At last, however, a film firm thought that it would try the dog and see what he really could do. The result was amazing. It found that ‘ Rinty ’ could do all sorts of clever things, including climbing on a horse’s back without help, and jumping an exceptionally long distance. It also found the public liked the dog’s pictures, so it gave a contract_ to make a lot more. • To-day Rin Tin Tin is one of the best liked film stars on the screen, and earns a lot of money for Lieutenant Duncan. His master is always present when his pictures are being made, for Rin Tin Tin will not work for anyone else. Lieutenant Duncaft has taught ‘ Rinty ’ all his tricks himself, and the clog has more medals, cups, and prizes than any dog in the world. He has also won a medal at every dog show he has been to. "