The REAL STORY of BALTO and TOGO 🐺❄️ Discover the Truth!

🌬️🐕 Balto and Togo were two dogs that participated in a sledding expedition that saved the town of Nome, Alaska, from a major epidemic. Balto has been most recognized as the great hero of the journey but... did you know that Togo led the hardest part of the mission? Find out the true story in this AnimalWised video!

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[RiyaLovexx]

Togo was the true hero. At age 12 he pushed and ran and he deserves way more recognition. He ran until his last breath

[Rprieve]

So in the end, Balto and Togo were both good boys.

[modifieddriverjbugz]

All sled dogs who participated that event are heroes

[tiney]

Togo definitely was a super dog who never gave up. Luckily the only love and recognition he needed was that of Sepalla and his wife the ones who really mattered to him. Humanity could learn alot about humility from Animals such as Togo. Thanks to Togo and all Pups who participated in the run. Truly inspiring.

[annemaclaren]

I guess it was just that Balto was so handsome and cute that he got so much attention - but both dogs were heroes - Togo was obviously very tough - an outstanding dog

[arasyard]

They are both heroes, Togo started the journey but Balto came to the rescue and finished it which made the mission a success..without Balto the medicines would have not reached its destination. Its not surprising that Balto earned the recognition because he is the finisher, just that Togo was not given the same recognition as well. But they are of course both heroes in their own ways..and all the dogs who ran, they are all incredible serving for the benefits of humans..

[mohammadkurdish]

I really didn't know anything about Togo until I watched the movie Togo 2019 and wow I'm so impressed by the courage Togo had and how brave he was he had the power of leading and bravery, it made me tear a little bit. What a great dog Togo was 😪

[christyassid]

Wow! At age twelve, Togo was an amazing dog!

[noninoni]

I raised and rescued huskies long before it was cool... I've always known, as well as other husky enthusiasts, that Togo was the REAL hero... Balto, you're a good dog, too.

[gregcorwin]

What is missing from most of these short video's is that Leonhard Seppala, who was Togo's owner, was also Balto's owner. He owned every dog on the team that Kaasen drove into Nome.
Seppala left to get the serum not knowing that they were arranging a relay of multiple mushers, he thought that he had to pick up and deliver the serum, so he had planned to run the entire round trip.
Gunnar Kaasen who drove the final leg into Nome worked for Seppala and used dogs that Seppala had left behind at his kennel when he choose his best dogs for the run.
No disrespect to those dogs or to Kaasen, they also did what was needed and every dog and musher in the relay was a hero.
Something else that is never mentioned was that one of the sick children was Seppala's own daughter.

[bodybuildingABC]

its like rewarding one firefighter for someones life and then saying no it was actually the other one who carried the injured person further. you salute the team. picking one is wrong whichever one you choose. the driver of the firetruck is the one who drove the firemen to the burning house using his extreme truck driving skills which is also a talent in itself. the people who organised this trip, the people who guided the dogs, the people who bread the dogs, it all comes together. Bolto is a hero Togo is a hero, the dogs that died during the trip, literally giving their last breath for this mission are heroes. Everyone is a hero <3

[h.borter]

OMG, I'm a cat person but dogs get me every time♥️♥️♥️

[oliviamefi]

Here after watching TOGO on Disney Plus, what a heart warming family movie esp at the end which was unexpected. You are the main hero Togo, excellent and well done job to all the dogs involved.

[MRptwrench]

I think there's another way to give Togo due credit without denying any well deserved credit for Balto. As Balto's musher faced a snowstorm so blinding, that he "could not even see ANY of the dogs of his pack. Not even the dogs closest to his sled. Balto was able to navigate blind by scent alone to find the town of Nome." Yes, all dogs are good dogs. And all dogs go to heaven. (Not the animated film, but the saying the film got it's title from.)

[ingehaugland]

Hello. This might get lost, but then again, I have nothing better to do.
I just want to point out a couple of things mentioned in the video or shown and add some additional commentary where I feel it would be appropriate. I have spent some time researching this topic and spoken to plenty of people, both in real life and via the comment sections of YouTube videos about this specific topic. Though it has been some time, so I am a bit rusty. I will not nit-pick, but rather just comment on things I think might be relevant.

Firstly, just to put it out there. Yes, Togo did participate in what was considered to be the most difficult and dangerous part of The Serum Run, but here it almost sounds as if he went about it on his own. Alongside Togo was an exceptionally large team composed of a total of 20 dogs, if I remember correctly. You also state that the team was led by Togo, which is true. However, sources are a bit conflicted further on, because some state that Seppala ran Togo in double lead with Fritz. Fritz for that part can be seen in the picture shown at 1:29 in the back standing. He is the pure white one. Fritz can also be seen at 2:07 with Seppala and Togo, presumably on a boat to Seattle. Might not be relevant, but I just think Fritz is neat.

You state that several dogs from the groups died. I just want to add to this, because I feel it's important. Seppala never lost a dog while on the trail, neither during races or The Serum Run. It is true that some of the other mushers lost a couple of dogs, sadly.

Perhaps most important, and something which is still controversial to this day. Kaasen was not originally intended to do the final stretch of The Serum Run, he was in charge of the second to last leg. Just for the record, Seppala ended up handing the Serum over to Charlie Olson, who then handed it over to Kaasen. Kaasen was supposed to hand the serum over to Ed Rohn for the 25 mile final leg. Rohn and Kaasen had left Nome together a bit earlier, with Rohn stopping to wait for Kaasen at a cabin. Just as a note, Rohn was a short distance specialist when it came to mushing, a sprinter, which is why he was saved for last. The story goes that when Kaasen arrived at the cabin, he found that the lights were out and Rohn and the dogs were sleeping. Kaasen then decided to take the matter into his own hands and continue on, because he thought it would be quicker than for Rohn to get himself and his dogs ready. So he continued on without waking Rohn. Other say that Kaasen never actually arrived back at the cabin and that he went straight past, intentionally or otherwise. We might never know, but it is worth noting that Kaasen was not initially intended to complete the last leg.

One more thing, the illustration of the route you show with an image of Togo is misleading. The route you show has Seppala and Togo travelling along the modern-day Iditarod race route. The image itself illustrates the correct route in green. Initially, Seppala set out from Nome with the information that he was to retrieve the serum in Naluto and return alone. The relay was not part of the original plan, it was set up as Seppala was already on his way. It was impossible to get a message to him after he left, which is why he was surprised when he ran into Henry Ivanoff outside of Shaktoolik, who handed him the serum. Shaktoolik does not appear on the map, but it is about 30 miles north of Unalakleet. Seppala therefor travelled from just outside Shaktoolik to Golovin. The original plan had Seppala and Togo travel over 400 miles.

I am really, really sorry if any of that sounded condescending. I would not have been my intention.
On a more positive note, if anyone were to watch the Disney+ Togo, I am happy to inform you that The Serum Run did not have nearly the same effect on the real Togo as movie Togo. Becuase Leonhard rests for a few days before heading back to Nome. On the way from Golovin, the dogs notice a couple of reindeers and start chasing them around. Leonhard attempt to get them to calm down, but Togo and two other dogs manage to break from their line. One of the dogs comes back soon after, while Togo and another disappear into the woods. Leonhard does what he can to search for the dogs but eventually makes his way back to Nome on February 4th, with Billinken and Young Scotty in lead. Leonhard passes through Front Street, dismissing the journalists, telling them that Kaasen is the one they should be speaking to. He briefly mentions that Togo got away on the way back and that he is afraid that the dog might have ended up in a fur hunters trap or shot by reindeer herders. People start searching for the missing dogs, who a week later, are driven up to Seppala's kennel by the postman.

Fun fact: Togo's last race was on February 27-28th 1928 at the Pocono Manor Dog Race (16 miles, Pocono Summit Lake, Pennsylvania). Elizabeth Ricker came first, with several of Seppala's dogs, including Fritz as the lead dog. Seppala came second. Asle Seppola came third, with Togo and Czarina as lead dogs. All three drivers were within 8 minutes of each other. Togo would have been around 15 years old at the time.

[margelynmancio]

Very nice story, I saluted you puppies, you're a hero and never forgotten

[keddeokvig]

I believe that Balto and Togo were both amazing and great heroes and both of them deserve credite for their deeds

[exiledknight]

All the dogs and mushers should be given credit.

[petitprince]

The book, The Cruelest Miles by Gay and Laney Salisbury, gives a nice in depth account of the whole story in 1925.

[xplicithiphop]

Dogs really don’t ask for much in return except a little love and care. Yet they give their all for humans. That’s what makes them better than us.