Lost-then-found bulldog will be honorary UMD mascot

DULUTH, Minn. – Ham, the wayward bulldog who was found safe after spending 11 days on the lam in frigid weather will be an honorary University of Minnesota Duluth mascot at a hockey game later this month.

Ham will appear at the Jan. 23 men’s hockey game between the UMD Bulldogs and Bemidji State Beavers at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena in Duluth.

“We’ve had so many requests to do things. At first we wanted to say no,” said Kevin Holubar, Ham’s owner. “But so many people helped us and have offered such kind things to say, that we are just saying yes now. It’s our way of trying to thank people.”

Ham’s big appearance was arranged by a Duluth advertising agency that does promotional work for the UMD athletic department. The year-old bulldog is expected to meet the Bulldog team and be announced in front of the crowd, Holubar said.

Kevin and Meegan Holubar of Richfield, Minn., lost Ham during the Christmas Eve blizzard when he broke away from Kevin at a relative’s house. Kevin tried to catch the dog but was struck by a car and suffered an ankle injury.

The dog turned up the following Monday on the steps of a nearby Duluth home. Ham had lost about 30 pounds and suffered minor frostbite but otherwise was in decent shape.

Holubar said the family has been inundated with requests for television and radio interviews after the story of the lost-then-found dog appeared in the Duluth News Tribune. He said many Duluth area residents also have called the family to express support.

“People we don’t even know were out looking for him after the first story ran in the paper,” he said. “We want to thank everyone for their help. … I wish everyone could look at this dog’s face and be as happy as we are to have him back.”

John Myers is a reporter at the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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