***Editor’s Note: This is the final post for our Rescue Pet Essay contest. It was written by Phoebe Uman, a 6th grader at Calkins Road School in Pittsford. Phoebe loves reading and bracelet-making – and, as you will see from her story, she is also excellent at research.
If you are walking through the paths of Central Park you may stumble across a statue of a dog standing on an outcrop of rocks. This dog is a courageous Siberian Husky who led a dog-sled team through sub-zero degree (Fahrenheit) weather for 53 miles in the dark. This dog is the famous Balto.
Less known is another Siberian Husky named Togo. Togo also led a sled dog team in frigid weather. Togo ran for 91 miles.
Balto and Togo were born and raised in the kennels of Leonhard Seppala. They were always sled dogs and they carried medicine and supplies to the gold miners of Nome. They also carried sick and injured miners fro medical care in Nome. Balto was bigger than Togo, but Seppala always favored Togo as a racer. Balto was favored by Seppala’s assistant , Gunnar Kaasen. Both dogs became heroes during the great serum race of 1925.
During 1925, in Alaska, a deadly epidemic of diphtheria broke out among the children of a small town called Nome. The only known cure for the people was found in Anchorage, which is almost a thousand miles away. The only plane that could take the medicine to Nome had frozen engines and could not fly to Nome. With no other options, officials decided to have a sled dog race to take the cure to the ill children. Over twenty teams of mushers with a total of over 150 dogs participated in the race. The dog who led the last sled team was Balto. The dog who led his team through the roughest terrain for the longest leg of the race was Togo.
Balto got most of the fame because he ran last and was the one who brought the cure into Nome. First, everyone wished to give the credit to Gunnar Kaasen, the musher for Balto’s team, but Kaasen suggested giving Balto attention. At the same time, Togo, the dog who ran the farthest and deserved the most praise, was overlooked by many.
Balto and Kaasen were celebrities after the great race. Balto has a statue in Central Park dedicated to all the dogs that participated in the serum run with him. When Balto and six companions were brought to Cleveland, they were given a hero’s welcome. In 1995 the movie “Balto” was produced. The film was loosely based on the serum run.
Though he was not as famous as Balto, Togo and other dogs on his team went on tour from Washington to California. They attracted huge crowds everywhere they went. They even appeared on a Lucky Strike cigarette campaign. They drove from the steps of city hall through Central Park. Often appeared at Madison Square Garden, where Roald Amundsen awarded Togo a gold medal. After several dog sled races against local Chinooks in New England, Siberian Huskies became very popular in Maine and they were recognized as an official breed by the American Kennel Club. At death, Togo was headline news in the New York Sun Times. Most Siberian Huskies today are relatives of Togo and the dog team.
Balto had a life of luxury right after the race, but his later years were not as great. Balto was neutered at a young age and could not reproduce. George Kimble, former prize fighter, visited the dogs in Los Angeles, and to his surprise found that Balto and the team were unhealthy and badly treated. He worked with the newsppaper The Plain Dealer to bring Balto and the team to Cleveland to be taken to the Brookside Zoo (now the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo) for a better home.
Balto died on March 14th 1933 and his remains were donated to the Cleveland Museum of History. Togo died on December 5, 1926.
During and directly after the race, Balto had quite a bir more fame than Togo, but then was found later an abused dog. Togo was neglected during Balto’s fame, but continued to be an influencing dog until death. Both dogs were great heroes during the great serum race, and throughout their whole life.
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