Balto: The Canine Hero

Balto the Siberian Husky is remembered for leading a team of sled dogs to deliver medicine that saved the town of Nome, Alaska from a deadly epidemic. He became a national hero, and his photo was on the front page of every newspaper in the country. A statue was erected in his honor in Central Park in 1925, and it is still one of the most beloved tourist attractions today. Many of you may have grown up watching the 1995 animated film by Universal Pictures, and that may be the extent of what you know about Balto. But the true story is far more dramatic than what you ever learned from cartoons and children’s books. On today’s Biographics, we bring you the story of Balto, the canine hero.

Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Shannon Quinn
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris

Other Biographics Videos:

Napoleon Bonaparte: The Strategic Genius

Toussaint L’Ouverture: the Black Napoleon who Freed Haiti’s Slaves

Source/Further reading:

[amb]

Go Balto AND Togo AND all of the other dogs who ran this important race to save lives!

[IToRmI]

Separating poor Balto and Gunnar was just cruel.

[shanejacobson]

Dog stories always hit me right in the feels.

[marthabulter]

If you ask me Balto and Togo both are heroes and I believe the other dogs all them have the right to be heroes in this case not just one not all of them are heroes

[trashasaurus]

Togo is finally getting his movie! I love Balto but Togo being tossed in a museum and forgotten is tragic, he deserves just as much praise!

[lukezylik]

Balto is a hero but his owner Gunnar is just as much a hero, even though he seemed to downplay his own role in what happened.

[grtestsctsman]

Biographics covers all the major figures in history. The Leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin, the head of German SS, Heinrich Himmler, and the Best Boi, Balto the Siberian Husky.

[kingrichardiii]

I find this whole Balto vs Togo debate ridiculous. As Kaasen said himself the other runners took the more dangerous routes. and of course Kaasen's team made the last rush to get the antidote to the town as quick as possible. Credit should be shared between all the brave runners who took part.

[DecayingReverie]

And now I'm crying. Balto truly was the best boy. It shows how those of us who may not seem like they are the greatest or best example can do extraordinary things.

[TheOneBadAssGamer]

All the dogs were definitely heroes, and it doesn't matter which one get majority credit. They were all the bestest boi's.

[NTMA]

you just revived forgotten childhood memories just to hit me in the feels.

hats off, simon.

[madiantin]

Poor Balto and Gunnar. What a scumbag move to separate them.

[hennessy]

People, dont be Balto, ALL THOSE DOGS WERE HEROES, did u realize that if only few of them faliled to stay on track, everything were lost, no matter how brave others be?GIVE THEM ALL RESPECT, THEY SURELY DESERVE IT!

[lolyoutoobe]

could you imagine being jealous of a DOG?

[hunterhath]

I cried HARD! Stories about animals destroy my emotional barrier!

[swt]

Jealousy is not the main problem here. It's the fact humans are so damn stupid and can't think outside the box. Literally any dog could have crossed the line and received the same credit, Balto and his team could have passed it to another for the last half mile and that dog would get a statue. Just like everything else in history, nobody cares about the process, only the results.
Control the media and you control the people couldn't have been more true.
props to Balto and the other dogs
But biggest props to Togo for being a one in a kind dog

[ringo]

What a shame loosing his best friend like that, I didn't know that part of the story

[me]

Next good boy story: Hachiko

Dw everyone, I have tissues ready.

[Holvik]

The quote at the end from Gunnar really welled me up. He loved that dog so much I bet it destroyed him having Balto taken away 😭😭😭

[lorelei]

I'm a 37 year old woman who teared up watching this. My favorite book as a child was about Balto. I loved the story and the amazing Balto! <3