How a Man’s Bond With His Dog Saved a Town From a Lethal Outbreak

With every passing day, more and more children were falling ill, and the sense of urgency was palpable. The townspeople knew they had to act fast if they wanted to have any chance of saving their loved ones. It was a race against time, and every second counted.

But, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. And with the town being hit hard by the blizzards, desperate measures were exactly what was needed. It was gonna be a tough ride, but Nome was determined to make it through.

That’s the thing about memory, it can be tricky. It’s not always reliable. But with modern technology and research, it’s possible to uncover the truth and give credit where it’s due. So don’t be too quick to believe everything you hear, sometimes it’s worth digging a little deeper to find the real story.

However, somewhere along the way, his name got mixed up with another husky, Balto, and his contributions were nearly forgotten. But Togo was no ordinary sled dog. He was a true lifesaver and his heroism deserves recognition.

It was more than just a race against time, the odds were truly against them, but Togo and the team were determined to save those children no matter what, and their courage and determination ultimately led to a successful rescue mission.

In 1925, a strange sickness began plaguing the town’s children. At first, it was thought to be just tonsillitis. But as the outbreak progressed, it became clear that this was something far more serious. It turns out, the children had contracted a highly contagious and deadly bacterial infection known as diphtheria.

The town is closer to Siberia in Russia than it is to Alaska’s biggest city and transportation options were limited. The residents of Nome had to come up with a creative solution to this problem. With only three options on the table, they had to act fast to save their community.

But all hope was not lost. The good old-fashioned dog sled proved to be the only viable option. The courier would meet up with the train at Nenana and then brave the Alaskan wilderness to deliver the serum to Nome.

Imagine being out in the middle of a raging snowstorm with a pack of sled dogs. It’s not a walk in the park. The sled dogs and mushers have to contend with getting lost in whiteout conditions, running out of supplies, dealing with freezing temperatures, and even the risk of fatal falls.

With the freezing temperatures, the surface had frozen over, but whether it could hold up a pack of excited sled dogs was anyone’s guess. It was a nerve-wracking experience, as one wrong move could have sent the whole team plunging into icy waters.

But he wasn’t alone on this adventure, several other dog sled teams were also involved. One of the famous members of the team is a dog named Togo. This was without a doubt a true test of skill, strength, and bravery for all the participants, both human and canine.

Togo may have been small and weak when he was born, but he proved to be a real fighter. Despite his throat condition, he overcame the odds and went on to become one of the greatest sled dogs of all time.

In a bold move, the determined pup broke through a glass window and made his way back to Seppala. Togo wasn’t just strong but also had a stubborn streak in him. Despite Togo’s small size, Seppala quickly realized the pup’s potential and decided to keep him.

Despite his mischievous and difficult nature, as described in the book “The Cruelest Miles” about the race against the deadly epidemic in Nome, Togo would become a valued member of the sled dog team, known for his strength and endurance.

Togo ended up astounding his musher by surpassing the rest of the pack and taking the lead. This was just the beginning of Togo’s many surprises for his musher. Who would have thought that a little troublemaking pup could turn out to be a real leader?

Seppala soon realized that Togo was not just any ordinary puppy, but an “infant prodigy” in the world of dog sledding. Togo had an insatiable drive to be a part of the team and excel in the sport.

Togo had a special bond with Seppala; they were rarely apart and spent most of their time together. As the lead dog, Togo participated in most of Seppala’s runs and together they tackled some of the most challenging terrains. Their bond was unbreakable, and it was evident in their seamless teamwork.

When a diphtheria outbreak hit the small town of Nome, the residents knew just who to turn to. Togo and his team of sled dogs, led by Seppala, were called upon to brave the Alaskan wilderness and deliver life-saving medicine.

One thing that the Disney movie Togo left out, is that Seppala had a personal stake in this journey as well. He had an eight-year-old daughter named Sigrid, who was at risk of contracting diphtheria. This added an extra layer of motivation for him to complete the journey successfully.

Despite their age, the sled veterans showed that their skills were still as impressive as ever. Togo and his team covered an astonishing distance of 170 miles in just three days. Just like Togo’s jaw-dropping run on his first day in the harness, the team proved that they were truly up for the task at hand.

Despite the danger, Seppala made the bold decision to take a shortcut straight across the precariously frozen ocean inlet. This risky move paid off, as it shaved a crucial 42 miles off the journey. However, the success came at a personal cost, as the ice factory proved to be a formidable challenge for the team.

Speaking of luck, Seppala had a close call with fellow musher Henry Ivanoff. Without the help of his furry friends and a dash of good luck, Seppala would have missed the transfer of the serum from Ivanoff.

In the movie Togo, there is a scene where Seppala almost loses the serum when he falls into the Norton Sound’s icy waters. While it’s a dramatic moment, did it actually happen or was it just Hollywood adding some artistic flair to the story?

But, it’s important to note that this specific incident didn’t happen during the famous diphtheria serum run. It was actually from an earlier journey. Imagine this, Seppala’s sled was chugging along on an ice floe when suddenly the tow rope snaps, and Togo gets separated from the rest of the team. Talk about a scary situation!

Thankfully, this daring rescue didn’t take place during the relay race for the diphtheria serum. Seppala’s team completed their journey 78 miles away from Nome and successfully handed off the crucial delivery to the sled team waiting in Golovin. Togo and his team made it just in time to save the day.

It was a testament to the strength and determination of both the human mushers and the tireless sled dogs, that despite the unforgiving conditions of the serum race, the mission was a success. However, this triumph came at a cost: several of the furry heroes lost their lives due to exposure to the harsh weather.

But, here’s the thing: Balto was one of Seppala’s dogs, but the musher didn’t think Balto was quite ready to take the reins (pardon the pun). So he chose Togo to lead the pack instead.

But Balto’s sense of smell was stronger than the 50mph winds and he guided the sled to safety. So while Balto may not have been the hero for the reasons people thought he was, he was still pretty darn heroic!

As a result, when the medicine arrived in Nome, Balto and his musher Kaasen were celebrated as the heroes of the expedition. This led to a statue of Balto being erected in Central Park just ten months after the run.

Their journey was one of endurance, loyalty, and intelligence. They trekked 600 miles over difficult terrain, across dangerous waters, and through fierce blizzards. It made Balto and his driver Kaasen celebrities. They both enjoyed fame for their heroic deeds, courage, and endurance.

He was truly a pioneer in the world of animal actors. But Balto’s fame didn’t stop there, even decades later his legacy was honored by Disney with an animated feature film named after him in 1995, plus two additional sequels in the following years.

Balto had quite the journey after his time in the spotlight, passing through different owners along the way. Unfortunately, not all of them were very nice. But, don’t you worry! In the end, he got to spend his golden years with his team and received proper care at the Cleveland Zoo.

But Togo’s adventures didn’t end there. He continued to be the trusty lead sled dog for his best friend Seppala and went on other exciting journeys. Even if none of them quite measured up to the serum race, Togo was still a hero and a great companion on the trail.

After the race, Seppala continued to breed dogs with the help of Elizabeth Ricker, a musher from New England. Together, they worked on perfecting the art of dog sledding and producing the best sled dogs around.

Seppala had to make the difficult decision to put Togo to sleep, but Togo’s legacy lives on through his offspring. His descendants are likely still thriving today, carrying on his genetic traits. And who knows, you might even have one of Togo’s descendants as your loyal companion!

In fact, the Siberian Husky Club of America later declared that every single registered Siberian husky had ancestors that traced back to either Harry Wheeler’s kennel or the Seppala-Ricker kennels. After retiring, Seppala decided to spend the rest of his days in the great outdoors, enjoying the beauty of Alaska and the American Northwest.

He marveled at the advancements in technology that allowed for the creation of planes and ships, but ultimately acknowledged the importance of the sled dogs in completing this vital mission, stating that it was the “dogs [that] brought it through” in the end.

He felt that reaching the end of his journey was like reaching a smooth, downhill path, with a warm and inviting place waiting for him in the distance. The presence of his friends, including Togo, made him feel that everything would be alright in the end.

The race takes place on the very trails that the relay teams trekked on during the serum run. A prestigious award is also presented to certain participants as a nod to Seppala’s contributions. If you’re a fan of sled dog racing, the Iditarod is a must-see event.

Togo and Seppala are known today as true heroes among sled dog enthusiasts and beyond. Their reputation has only grown over the years, solidifying their place in history as true champions of the sport and of the dogs who make it possible.