Togo was the best dog that ever traveled the Alaska trail.”). Nearly a century later, his story endures, thanks in part to a Central Park monument erected that year, as well as a 1995 animated flick, “Balto,” with Kevin Bacon giving voice to the dog. 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. Over the years, Togo became known across Alaska for his tenacity, strength, endurance, and intelligence as Seppala’s prized lead dog. Over time, with the help of historians, Togo began to garner the recognition he deserved. Balto was proclaimed a hero and his name made national news. In his book, Early Sled Dog Racing in Maine: A Frying Pan of Hot Meat Wrecked My Chances in the First Race, Seppala described how Togo, now in his teens, entered a weight-pull contest against another dog twice his size. Disney’s ‘Togo’ is the story of Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo, who completed the longest section of the Great Race of Mercy, the famed sled dog relay that brought diphtheria antitoxin across the U.S. territory of Alaska in five and a half days to save the town of Nome from an impending epidemic. This is unquestionably the greatest sled dog story ever told – and it has been told many times with one constant: the wrong dog gets the credit. Togo sired some offspring during that time, and then died of old age in 1929 (Seppala had him “put to sleep” to ease his passing). After his death, Seppala had him custom mounted. The serum had arrived, and the town had been saved. The situation in the small town of Nome, Alaska was dire in January 1925, as diphtheria had taken the lives of two young children and many more deaths were sure to come. On February 3rd, 1925, Kaasen and Balto rode into Nome to a hero’s welcome. There have been movies made about him and stories that every musher has heard countless times, but this week is the history of another great sled dog; Leonhard Seppala’s Togo. An antitoxin was located, but the nearest point which the serum could reach by rail was Nenana, located 674 miles from Nome. Not only did they find a dog with sledding training, which meant he’d be able to do the sledding close-ups, he’s also a … “It blew me away that a 12-year-old dog made that much of a run and was an unsung hero,” director Ericson Core tells The Post. During the 1925 serum run to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, Togo led his pack on a long, harrowing journey across buckling sea ice. Children were especially at risk, and Nome’s isolation created a nightmare scenario. Togo attempted to pull the floe supporting the sled, but the line snapped. Ultimately, Seppala and New England musher Elizabeth Ricker chose to open a kennel of Siberians in Poland Spring, Maine. Small, feisty Siberian husky Togo—the overlooked sled-dog hero of the 1925 serum run to Nome—sets the record straight in Dog Diaries #4! Privacy Notice In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in the remote port of Nome, Alaska, threatened the lives of the 10,000-plus living in the area. The indomitable dog was finally put to rest in 1929 at the age of 16. Togo: A Sled Dog of the Ages. Togo was the lead dog for Leonhard Seppala's team during the longest and most dangerous leg of the serum run to Nome in 1925. As deaths from the disease mounted, the decision to act was made. However, those in the know regarded Togo as the serum run’s unsung hero. All the while, the outbreak worsened back in Nome. See more ideas about dog sledding, iditarod, musher. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights His journey, fraught with white-out storms, was the longest by 200 miles and included a traverse across perilous Norton Sound — where he saved his team and driver in a courageous swim through ice floes.” It wasn’t until 2001 that Togo was given his own marble monument in the Lower East Side’s Seward Park, which is named for William H. Seward — the Secretary of State (and former New York governor and senator) who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. So when Nome was gripped by diphtheria and relays of sled dogs were the only connection to the railhead, Seppala chose Togo as his lead dog — even though Togo was then 12 years old. The dogs were imports from Siberia, a team of huskies that were intended for a polar expedition headed by Roald Amundsen. Sitemap But a fact largely ignored is that Balto actually only led the final 50-some miles of the relay. But time has a way of sorting things out. By the time the diphtheria outbreak struck in 1925, Togo was 12 years old and Seppala 47, both seemingly past their primes. 123,364, © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours, from which Disney apparently rented dogs for Togo, admits on its website that it keeps dogs chained for up to 23 hours a day and says, “Although they are outside most of the time, we do allow many of them to come inside from time to time especially as they age!” Togo soon proves himself when he outruns every other sled dog. Nice book about Togo the hero sled dog who carried the diphtheria serum together with his team farther than any other and through terrible weather. Naturally, it then fell to Seppala and Togo to bring the serum back towards Nome. Most recently, Togo was featured in the AKC Museum of the Dog exhibition “Mush! An agouti husky with blue eyes, Togo was owned by L.Seppla, and excellent musher and Husky breeder in his day. He put a harness on the 8-month-old Togo and hooked him into the team. How hard was it to find a trained dog that could do what you needed Togo to do in that sort of breed? This story has been shared 258,621 times. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. It was there that Togo lived out the rest of his days in dignity and serenity. Though Balto continues to be immortalized, where it matters most – in the great state of Alaska – Seppala and Togo gain in stature with every year that passes. Most famous among modern dog sled races, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is held each year in March, with parts of the route traversing the same 1925 serum run trails taken all those years ago. The actual dog on screen, Togo is supposed to be sort of a mutt, if I’m correct, of a sled dog and other dogs. Togo was THE greatest sled dog of his time.Togo was a sire to many great dogs, and is belived to be one of the best sires of the breed. Today, Togo is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters Museum in Wasilla, Alaska. When a diptheria epidemic breaks out in isolated Nome, Alaska, in January 1925, the only way to get life-saving serum to the town is by using dog-sled … His penchant for mischief led to a mauling when he ran up on a team of much larger Malamutes. Balto certainly received the attention in New York, what with the mighty statue of him placed in Central Park in 1925. Togo led Seppala’s team in races and excursions long and short, and dog and man became inseparable. However, Togo and Seppala's team didn't have to endure the brutal conditions by themselves. For years, Balto, who also came from Seppala’s kennel, was celebrated, even earning a statue in New York’s Central Park. Seward Park Conservancy president Amy Robinson tells The Post they are raising funds for one. Unwittingly, Seppala had found himself the perfect lead dog for which he had always yearned. The needed antitoxins were 674 miles away in Nenana, and it was determined the best way to retrieve them was through a dog sled relay (which would eventually inspire the Iditarod). About Togo. The sled dog who did the lion’s share of the work was Togo. The action-packed flick takes audiences on a perilous journey that makes it clear which pooch really deserved most of the credit. Founded in 1884, the AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for dogs. DOG DAYS: Famed sled-dog racer Leonhard Seppala holds his lead dog, Togo. "I never had a better dog than Togo. In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in the remote port of Nome, Alaska, threatened the lives of the 10,000-plus living in the area. Togo was a mature twelve year old dog at the time of the run and had been leading the pack for seven years. With a blizzard approaching, air travel was ruled out. 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