DOG FOR ANTARCTIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 10

DOG FOR ANTARCTIC.

ARRIVAL FROM AMERICA.

WELL-KNOWN FILM " STAR." An interesting passenger from Los Angeles by the steamer Golden Cloud, which reached Auckland yesterday, was Skookuni, a huge dog which is being taken to Dunedin to join Commander Byrd's expedition to tho Antarctic, Shookum, who is a malcmute by breed, is a team-leader and has won many prizes in America, his latest being a first award at the third annual all-breed dog show at Santa Barbara, California, last year. Ho stands nearly 3ft. in height and is exceptionally strongly built. In addition to being a well-known team dog he has earned a certain fame in motion pictures. It was as a result of his participation in a film at Los Angeles that he was unable to join tho main body of the expedition when it left America.

Throughout tho trip the dog was in tho care of tho master, Captain E. Svedstrup. He is fed only once a day. From tho start ho mado himself perfectly at home on board, and became a favourito with tho crew, whom ho allowed to pet him without tho least resentment. The vessel is to unload at Wellington, Timaru and Dunedin, and at the last-named port ho will join Commander Byrd's other dogs. On arrival yesterday ho was examined by a veterinary surgeon, who gavo h.im a clean bill-of-health. However, it was deemed advisablo to inoculato him in case of possiblo infection.