To clear up some questions about Balto, and if he or the champion bred husky, Togo, deserved  all the credit, I'am going to tell you just exactly what happened and maybe you can finnaly decide for yourself which dog is a hero.

   In January of 1925 a diphtheria epidemic broke out among th children of Nome. The only serum that could stop this outbreak was in Anchorage, which was some one thousand miles away. The peple decided to send the antitoxin by aircarft, but do to harsh weather conditions, were unable to do so. So with no ohter way of transportation it was sent by dog sled.

   More then twenty mushers and teams took part in the serum run. On Febuary 2, 1925  Gunnar Kaasen drove his team, led by Balto, to Nome, While miles away Leonhard Seppla and his team led by Togo, a chapion bred  husky, picked the serum up from Henery Ivanoff. After Togo covered miles through a blizzard, the serum was passed to Balto's team.

  Kaasen did not believe Balto to be worth the position of lead dog, but he proved himself on the Idatariod Trail, saving the team from death at the Topkok River, and guiding them  throught  a blizzard so bad Kassen said he could not see the his own hand in front of his face.

  The team misssed the next team of dogs that were to take the serum the rest of the way, so Balto had to travel twice as far to reach Nome. The storm finally calmed as the team pulled into Nome where the serum was taken to the children, and the dogs recieved a hero's welcome.

  On  December 17,1925 Balto and millons of people were present for the unveiling of his and his team's monument. Inscribed on the monument is 'Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treachrous terrian, through artic blizzards, from Nenana to the relief stricken Nome in the winer of 1925.' The dogs were given a hero's life at Cleveland zoo on March 13, 1933. He Balto died at the old age of 11.

       Now maybe that all of you have read the story of Balto you can see who the hero is. Togo may have covered more terrain and went a longer distance, but if this husky had not been brave and smart enough to save his team and guide them to safety, If he had not have had the strength to cover twice the miles of all the other dogs the Nome may have not still existed today. It was the strengh and loyalty of a dog named Balto that saved Nome and went down as the greatest dog in history.

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jerseycaptain, March 22, 2008 at 07: 36 Member

Togo was not "champion bred", SouthPaw. In fact, if you read about him in both "The Cruelest Miles" (by Gay & Laney Salisbury) and "Seppala: Alaskan Dog Driver" (compiled by Elizabeth Ricker, mostly from the accounts and journals of Leonhard Seppala, Togo and Balto's owner and breeder), you'll find that Togo was not only small for his breed (topping out at only 48 pounds), but had serious throat problems...a disorder which caused Seppala to want to give him up at first. Which he did. It was Togo's determination to be with his original master, and his evident talent as a sled dog, which caused Seppala to decide to take him back in and nurse his throat condition (with the help of his wife, Constance). Similarly, Togo had some Alaskan Malamute blood in his ancestry (even despite his small size). Otherwise, a nice little presentation. You can find references to the books I mentioned, as well as more information on the serum run and its participants, on my website, http://www.baltostruestory.com. The book information is on the "Acknowledgements" page.

tala the whitewolf, March 22, 2008 at 13: 19 Member

i think that they're both heros!

ilena12, March 22, 2008 at 17: 21 Member

*claps hands repeatedly* great! Im going to new york tomorrow "YAY!" and sometime next week Im going to see the balto statue! "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

SouthPaw, March 22, 2008 at 17: 41 Member

Thanks for your comments guys. Jersycaptian I disagree Togo was a champion bred husky. I have looked him up on several sites and they all say the same thing togo a champion husky. Balto was not owned by seppala his owner was Gunnar Kaasen who did not belive Balto worth a sled dog until he proved himself, and may I remind you the average wait of a male husky is 45-60 pounds So Togo was not "small for his breed" might want to look that one up next time but thanks for your comments. src='http://baltosource.timduru.org/img/smiley/s6.gif' /> ;) ;)

Nocturne, March 22, 2008 at 21: 03 Member

I never knew that at all! That is amazing! They both inspire me, they are both heros, they are both really intelligent, strong, powerful dogs, and they both deserve someof the credit. They were both excellent dogs and they're both legends. Brilliant article!

SouthPaw, March 22, 2008 at 21: 44 Member

Thanks Nocturne, and I agree they were both heros all the dogs that ran in the serum run were but Balto did deserve the credict he was given

Rainy Days, March 23, 2008 at 05: 51 Webranker

Balto was owned by Seppala. Kaasan only 'borrowed' Balto. He didn't own him. Just had to make that clear because thats the truth. ;]

jerseycaptain, March 23, 2008 at 06: 40 Member

Southpaw, read the historical references. Balto was never owned by Gunnar Kaasen, and Togo was indeed small for his age, and suffered from a serious throat disorder as a puppy. He was GIVEN UP by Seppala at first. He had no interest in the dog when he was young. "Champion" infers a show mentality anyway. Siberian huskies were not even recognized by any breed club back then. Additionally, for an adult male husky, 48 pounds IS small for the breed standard (which, again, did not even exist at the time). Knowing the real history always helps to dispel preconceptions. I suggest that you take the time to research this stuff before making bold, if certainly erroneous, statements.

SouthPaw, March 24, 2008 at 00: 45 Member

The 'breed standard" may not have existed but Toogo was regular size maybe short but still normal for his breed dont belive me look it up. 2nd I never said Togo was given up for all I may know he was this article ismaily based on Balto anywas so Togo dose not matter in the article. 3rd "Champion" does not imply show dog it implies champion sled dog which DID exist then.. Though standard did not exist back then people had a general idea of how big the dog was and 48 pound nomal SIZE (i repeat agian) Before doing this article I did 2 weeks worth of reaserch FIRST. You have your facts all wrong jersycaptian.

firefoxwolf5, March 24, 2008 at 22: 01 Member

Wow Balto had to travel twice as far to get back to nome.

jerseycaptain, March 25, 2008 at 01: 48 Member

firefox...Gunnar Kaasen's team (which Balto led) logged 53 miles...Leonhard Seppala's (which Togo led) logged 261 miles.

Rainy Days, March 25, 2008 at 19: 29 Webranker

SouthPaw, JerseyCaptain has his facts right. Its you that has the facts wrong. You've only been studying this for 2 weeks? Heh, you don't have a clue how long JerseyCaptain has looked this stuff up. And his facts are true. Try studying about it on dfferent sites, because what ever site you read this one is messed up.

SouthPaw, March 26, 2008 at 00: 41 Member

I know my facts are right, rainy days,but any opinions or anything that might help me undestand more of what you r saying will help. Firefox Jersy captian is right about Togo going the longer distance though balto did go twice as far togo coverd a harder distance I'm not sure about the distnce though sorry.

Rainy Days, March 26, 2008 at 19: 35 Webranker

You don't under stand, your facts are wrong. I'll find some sites to prove it to you. What site did you find those facts in?

SouthPaw, March 26, 2008 at 23: 46 Member

Alot of places rainy days. I googled it and it poped up a million different sites so...

Rainy Days, March 27, 2008 at 19: 36 Webranker

Well than, maybe you didn't understand what the sites said. Because most of the sites that tell you the history of the Serum Run will say that Togo was small for the breeds he was mixed with and other stuff that you got wrong.

SouthPaw, March 28, 2008 at 00: 48 Member

people look up exactly how big huskies are supposed to be togo was short but bot too small for his breed him and balto were the same size but balto was pure husky as well.

baltoluvwolf94, March 28, 2008 at 04: 48 Member

I feel they are all hero's every dog and musher but I do think that Balto did deserve the credit he was given

baltoluvwolf94, March 28, 2008 at 04: 50 Member

And where did you find those facts some were correct but others were wrong. Did you find it on wikipedia

Grey wolf, March 29, 2008 at 03: 41 Member

Great article!

halfbloodwolf93, March 29, 2008 at 17: 11 Member

can't we all just assume that both Balto and Togo are heroes and that Universal made a serious mistake (amongst many) not mentioning Togo? Seriously, it's all okay, the children are safe, the dogs are dead, the statue was made, and Universal messed the whole story up, it's done.

SouthPaw, March 29, 2008 at 18: 11 Member

I did'nt use wiwkipedia a lot of people have told me it was bad so I did'nt go on it, and I to think all the dogs were heros but all I'm saying is balto and his team deserved all the credit that they recived.

Iditarod, March 30, 2008 at 00: 39 Member

I simply think that they both deserve credit, although maybe, when it comes to Balto, I am just a tad biased. Anyhow, I have to agree with halfbloodwolf93.

jerseycaptain, March 30, 2008 at 07: 36 Member

Again, Balto didn't go "twice as far". Togo's team covered the greatest distance (that, in of itself, is not noteworthy. The fact that Togo himself was 12 years old at the time, and still led the team...at that distance...is). Now, the debate should not be about which dog is the greater hero. As I and others have said, ALL 150 dogs deserve that moniker. But it is a documented fact that Togo WAS small for his age and breed, and not of top quality (even his own breeder, Leonhard Seppala, is directly attributed as saying that). Any notion to the contrary is just misappropriation down through time. Just as it is that, but for the circumstances of history (and the prejudices and dishonest tactics of the press), neither dog would have been remembered for much (though Togo, because of his legacy as a racing leader, would have probably still been remembered by modern dog sled racers...and possibly by Siberian Husky breeders and breed enthusiasts).

SouthPaw, April 08, 2008 at 23: 00 Member

I agree Shadowe but Togo wasnt the real hero the both were every dog team and musher was a hero but if Balto had not have led his team through a blizzard then the serum wouldnt have gotten back to the children however yes they ALL were heros.

Rainy Days, April 11, 2008 at 00: 30 Webranker

Yeah, but Togo did most of the work. Togo ran wayy more than Balto or any other teams that rna it, and as JerseyCaptain said, Togo was 12. Guess what?! 12 is pretty old for a husky. But they were all heroes. But Togo is the biggest hero of the Serum Run..

SouthPaw, April 12, 2008 at 01: 35 Member

then why did'nt they build a statue of him if everyone cazn see togo was soooo much better?.

Rainy Days, April 12, 2008 at 02: 44 Webranker

Because Balto's team was the one who made it to Nome. They all thought that was the best team only because they ran last and more then they should have. Another team was supposed to bring the serum to Nome.

SouthPaw, April 15, 2008 at 20: 00 Member

So another team was "SUPPOSED" to bring the serum the fact is they did'nt and even if Togo had have been lucky enough to be the last dog to ge tthe serum who is to say he, or any of the other dogs for that matter, could have had the strength to go blind into a blizard maybe that why Balt recived the credit b/c he was the dog who made it through, if not for him (and others) the serum would have never gotten through and we wouldnt be talking about how nome was saved, nome wouldnt exist.

Rainy Days, April 17, 2008 at 22: 12 Webranker

Uhm, get your facts right. And yes, Nome would still exist. it was only the children who got effected by the illness. And Balto didn't even go thru the worst of the storm.

SouthPaw, April 18, 2008 at 22: 42 Member

Mybe you need to do some reaserch lets say ALL children kept getting sick and NO generation of children lived the serum never came and eventually there were no children well guess what no civilazation of people can exist without kids b/c when old people die guess who follows in footsteps the kids. Balto did go through the worst part Togo only covered the "rough" terrain and really its not ALL about Togo or Balto the statue was built for him and the team and it did'nt matter if Togo did this or that the real truth is every dog that day showed amazing strength,courage, and love to battle through storms and snow to get serum to Nome so Togo isnt even the one who deserves the most credict like most say though I do agree Balto deserved the life he got. He finally got people to recognize him as a great sled dog not just a dog not worthy for anything. Togo already had an average life though people may not have thought he was much after the serum run all the sled dogs and mushers were looked on as the heros of Nome.

Rainy Days, April 20, 2008 at 02: 34 Webranker

Umm, you know people move, more people could have moved to Nome, like duh. >< And you need to remember Balto was alot younger then Togo, it was easier for Balto. Don't you understand that 12 is old for a Husky? I'm guessing not, well it is. And Balto may have ran thru worser weather but still, Togo ran ALOT more then Balto did in that race. Also Balto really only got the fame because he was the one who arrived in Nome.

Grey wolf, April 20, 2008 at 13: 37 Member

Cool article. I've made a similar one on the french version..

SouthPaw, April 20, 2008 at 20: 40 Member

Ok I have said nothing about Togo"s age, really it's unimportant and even if more people had moved to Nome people get old and DIE "like duh" and though Togo was older he did run father (as you stated) so I guess it was'nt sooo much harder for him, and so what Balto got the credit and thats that for one reason or another Balto was given the credict and as far as most are concerned DESERVED it and Balto did not just get the credit b/c he came back first it was b/c he guided his team,and musher back when thier musher belived they were lost, Balto alone guided the team back to safety THROUGH A BLIZZARD with the SERUM so you go figure, so wow Togo ran a lot of miles if it was'nt Togo it would have been some other 12 year old dog

jerseycaptain, April 24, 2008 at 06: 30 Member

Southpaw, it is untrue that Balto "went through the worst of the storm". In fact, the last FEW teams went through the worst of it...and Togo's was among them. And that monument in Central Park is not for just HIS team (Balto's). It is for ALL the teams...the mushers and the dogs. It just happens to have a statue of Balto on top of it because he was the single dog (out of 150 of them) the press corps paid any attention to. Read the book "The Cruelest Miles". Learn the truth of the story.

SouthPaw, April 24, 2008 at 23: 09 Member

true the statue is for all the teams (FORGIVE ME FOR MY INCORRETNESS ON THAT PART ) But Balto was not just chosen b/c some media chose the last dog or any dog for that matter. Togo coverd more miles Balto led his musher through a blizzard. He went through such a bad part of the storm that his team was miles off course and missed the next team that was to take the mserum the rest of the way and maybe this is crazey but to me it seems like it was meant for balto to be the last dog for one reason or another it was balto not Togo or any of the other 150 heros but maybe he deserved it.

Rainy Days, April 27, 2008 at 22: 11 Webranker

Actually, Balto's team didn't miss the last stop by getting lost in the storm, they actually passed the next stop, but the next team wasn't ready and Gunnar Kaasen decided that the medicine would get to Nome faster if they just continued.. and thats what they did. So if the last team was ready, then I'm sure they would have gotten most of the attention, not Balto.

SouthPaw, April 28, 2008 at 22: 37 Member

Well whatever the case the last team WAS'NT ready so Balto did get the attention and like I said before if it was not Balto it would have been someother dog so Balto's not some terrible dog that stole the attention from everyone else he had just gotten what was way over due for him a heros life.

Rainy Days, April 28, 2008 at 23: 20 Webranker

I never said Balto was a terrible dog who stole the attention, I'm just correcting your mistakes and getting the story right. But as I said before, they were ALL heroes.. and Balto did not do most of the work. He only tavled 53 miles.

SouthPaw, April 30, 2008 at 00: 46 Member

ok ok I do apologize maybe some of my factsnare wrong I do'nt know but I gladly except any new ideas or help, but all I'm saying is it was just meant to be.Balto got the credit after he had had a very hard life, Togo, for the most part had it good, AND I AGREE all were heros but Balto deserved erverything he got afrter the run

Ichigo Kurosaki, May 06, 2008 at 03: 58 Fan News editor

I believe that all the dogs were heros. Togo played an important part and so did Balto but the hero, in my opinion, will always be Balto.

Rainy Days, May 06, 2008 at 19: 51 Webranker

Umm, ichigo, you just said that they were all hearoes.. and then you changed your answer? -_-

SouthPaw, May 06, 2008 at 22: 39 Member

Rainy days, thats not what Ichigo was saying he was saying every dog was hero, that was sure, but the hero between Balto and Togo in his opion was Balto so he did'nt "change the answer"

Rainy Days, May 07, 2008 at 21: 26 Webranker

Okay then... o.O I bet he only thinks of Balto becaise pf that Balto movie, haha. Probably. Thats how alot of people on this site are. lol (by the way, Southpaw, your avatar is very cute)

SouthPaw, May 07, 2008 at 23: 52 Member

You really think my avater is cute? Thanks so just a quick question is your real opinion that Togo deserved credit or that every dog should have gotten what Balto had?

Rainy Days, May 08, 2008 at 02: 32 Webranker

Yeah, your avatar is soo cute. I love it alot! That dog has the cutest face. And my opninion is that every dog(and human) from the serum run deserves a whole lot of credit.

SouthPaw, May 10, 2008 at 16: 57 Member

Thanks it's my dog zoe Now I understand you! I agree with your point 110% all I'm saying is even though people bring the subject of Togo up and say he should have gotten the credit the fact is Balto got the credit and, I think deserved it, though it is not all about just one dog it's about alot more than that, If I had to choose I think Balto deserves some credit, But as said before Everyone dog and man was a hero and they should be recognized.

Riley, June 26, 2008 at 16: 21 Member

I don't think that the answer to this argument should be "one dog is a hero, and the other isnt." Yes, Togo was a more experienced sled dog, and yes, he traveled farther than the other dogs, but I believe that Balto is the main hero of the story because he was the "scrub dog" who traveled farther than he was supposed to through a blizzard to bring the medicine home, and that was the whole point of the relay. I think that both are remarkable dogs who should be acknowledged for what they have done, but I don't really understand why it's such a big deal that Togo should be recieving more credit just because he ran farther. And anyway, I'm starting to think that this argument isnt even important. I firmly believe that Balto is the bigger hero, but if you think it's Togo, that's fine. Give him the credit you think he deserves. I think that instead of bickering about who needs more credit, we should be spreading the word that ALL the dogs who participated in the relay should recieve credit. They all played their part to get the medicine through, and without them, a lot of people in this world wouldn't be here. Stop fighting about who deserves more credit and let people believe what they want. But don't forget about the other dogs.

SouthPaw, June 27, 2008 at 19: 55 Member

Ok this is what I have been trying to say Riley, but no one is bickering, it's only a cival debate thats all everyone is entiltled to thier qwn opinions and thoguhts on the subject.

jennybaltogirl3671, July 23, 2008 at 01: 12 Member

Cool story,I just love balto so much!!

stacey_x, July 23, 2008 at 12: 25 Member

Togo wasnt 'champion bred', all the dogs in the gr8 race were heros, but between balto and togo i think balto and his team are the main heros as they went the extra mile after balto and his team got the medicine they got lost (balto as you said wasnt originally the lead dog) at the time the lead dog didnt know were to go as there was a storm, but balto barked and started pulling in the direction of nome so then he was made lead. also because of the storm and winds they were thrown in the air and like in the film lost the medicine but then it was found and went on at baltos next stop they wer sleeping becase they didnt think the team would get there til the next day, so the team skipped the next point nd took it home, so personally i think baltos the hero, hes also my hero. i love balto !

Balto fan 123, July 25, 2008 at 14: 44 Member

I think there both heros, but, i like Balto more!!!

Balto fan 123, July 25, 2008 at 14: 44 Member

Universull meesed with are minds!

Novaluna, August 06, 2008 at 17: 36 Member

It was Togo who ran the double shift, not Balto. Togo was carrying the serum to the next stop, but the next musher had an injured leg or something like that. It would've taken too long to get another team out, so Seppela volunteered.

Novaluna, August 06, 2008 at 17: 39 Member

And Togo also saved his team multiple times. He led them back to the trail before he was ever even on the team, ran through several blizzards, and pulled the team and ice floe to solid ground with his teeth. Now granted, Im not bashing Balto. He deserves some credit. But I think Togo deserves just a little bit more. I wrote an article on it, but Im waiting for it to be accepted.

SouthPaw, August 06, 2008 at 20: 21 Member

sorry Novaluna, but I disagree, Togo covered more rought terrain and such, but Balto did the double miles, his team missed the checkpoint, due to the on going blizzard and so he had to carry the serum the rest of the way to nome, Togo did not have to do a double shift.

Conception