On an interesting side note, despite Gunnar Kaasen being the musher that guided Balto, Leonhard Seppala owned both Balto and Togo. ... Seppala felt that Balto was not good enough to put on his own team for the Serum Run. In fact, Gunnar Kaasen had to pair Balto with another lead dog, Fox, for the final push into Nome.

Did Togo and Balto run together?

During his first day in the harness, Togo ran over 75 miles, a distance unheard of for an inexperienced young sled dog. ... Balto ran 55 miles, while Togo's leg of the journey was the longest and most dangerous. Togo retired in Poland Spring, Maine, where he was euthanized at the age of 16.

Why did Seppala sell Togo?

Togo's and Seppala's Deaths

By January 1927, Seppala had opened a kennel with a socialite named Elizabeth Ricker in Poland Springs, Maine, and he was traveling between Alaska and Maine. He made the decision to leave Togo behind in Maine in March 1927, concerned that the journey would be too much for the retired dog.

Why was Balto famous and not Togo?

Balto was Kaasen's lead dog during the serum run and thus was at the forefront as the team entered Nome carrying the lifesaving serum. As a result, Balto received an outsized portion of the fame from the journey, including more acclaim than Togo. ... A Balto statue still stands in New York's Central Park.

Why did Togo not get credit?

Togo was twelve years old and this would be his last race; going lame afterwards. He gave his heart and soul to his beloved master and ran until he could no more. ... This is why it broke Sepp's heart that Togo did not receive the credit due, for the most dangerous and deadly portion of the Serum Run.

The Togo True Story Had a Sadder Ending

27 related questions found

Did Togo actually cross the sound?

Yes. Togo was the true champion of the Serum Run. His journey through white-out storms and twice across the unforgiving Norton Sound was by far the most perilous leg of the run. It was also the longest by roughly 200 miles.

Why does Balto get all the credit?

Balto received the credit, as lead dog. Balto was an amazing husky and did an amazing job, but Balto did not run the length of difficult terrain, in the horrendous conditions, or cover as much danger and ice during the Serum Run, as Togo had. His heart would break all over again, for his beloved Togo.

What happened to Balto after the Serum Run?

In the end, Balto simply died of old age at the Cleveland Zoo. After his death, his body was mounted and put on display in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Ohio. It is still on display there today. If you visit Central Park in New York City, you'll also find a statue of Balto on display.

How old was Balto during the Serum Run?

How old was Balto during the Serum Run to Nome? Leonhard Seppala was once quoted as claiming that Balto was 6 years old at the time of the Serum Run, which would make Balto's birth year 1919.

Is Togo Baltos dad?

- Unlike Balto, whom Seppala had neutered at six months of age, Togo sired many litters of puppies for Sepp's breeding program, and today is widely considered one of the fathers of the modern Siberian Husky breed (as well as a strong contributor to the much older "Seppala Siberian Sled Dog" breed...the genetic ...

Do Seppala Siberians still exist?

The pure, original Seppala bloodlines are rare but found in small numbers in several Canadian provinces, the main population now occurring in Manitoba where the parent kennel relocated in 2008.

Was the real Balto part wolf?

The Real Balto Was Not Part Wolf And Wasn't Considered An Ideal Lead Sled Dog. In the animated film, Balto is half wolf; the real Balto was a Siberian husky, thought to be born sometime in 1919. Balto had a black coat with a patch of white on his chest and paws.

Was Balto and Togo owned by the same person?

The most famous dog in Seppala's kennel, Balto, wasn't even supposed to be in the Serum Run; in fact, he'd never led a team before. ... The largely unsung hero of Seppala's kennel, Togo's half-brother and also a veteran of the Serum Run, was Fritz.

Who made Balto?

Balto is a 1995 American live-action/animated adventure film directed by Simon Wells, produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Why is the Balto statue in New York?

New York dog lovers raised money to honor the Alaskan malamute that led a sled dog team in the delivery of diptheria antitoxins to the citizens of Nome, Alaska in 1924. The statue, sculpted by Frederick George Richard Roght, was dedicated in December 1925.

Was Balto a true story?

The movie “Balto” is advertised as being based on the true story of a sled dog who brought a life-saving vaccine to Alaska in the early '20s. ... The cutest dog was selected to lead and was given the catchy name Balto. After what was more a grim ordeal than heroic adventure, the medicine arrived in Nome.

How many dogs died in the serum run?

A total of 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs made the trip. Four dogs died along the way. All of the drivers suffered to some degree from the conditions. Kaasen and Balto, as the driver and lead dog who arrived with the serum in Nome, got much of the attention after the fact.

Where is Togo statue located?

Seward Park is home of a bronze statue of Togo, the hero sled dog who inspired the Disney+ original movie Togo. Disney+ worked with NYC Parks to install a plaque alongside the statue to honor the famous dog who trekked more than 260 miles to help deliver life-saving serum to children in Nome, Alaska.

Who was Togo's owner?

Willem Dafoe stars in the film as Leonhard Seppala, the owner of Togo.

Why are sled dogs chained?

The main benefit of the chain system is that when the dogs live on chains, they learn how to untangle themselves very easily. This is very important for the development of the young dogs since they then have less risk of seriously injuring themselves if they become tangled in the lines when running.

How much of Togo is CGI?

Unlike in the majority of Disney's recent films, Togo (as a puppy and as a grown dog) is a flesh-and-blood animal rather than a CGI creation, and the film is better for it.

How much is a Seppala Siberian husky worth?

USA: Average $650 USD. Australia: Average $1,500 AUD.

Did Togo really pull the ice?

Togo attempted to pull the floe supporting the sled, but the line snapped. Amazingly, the once-in-a-lifetime lead dog had the wherewithal to snatch the line from the water, roll it around his shoulders like a harness, and eventually pull his team to safety.

Who is the most heroic animal of all time?

A statue of Balto was erected in Central Park, New York in December 1925. Through Disney's film adaptation of the legendary Serum Run, Togo gets his well deserved credit for his achievements. Togo was also voted “The World's Most Heroic Animal” by Time Magazine in 2011.