4 ms·

Togo was the real hero, though.

runnerup 4y ago
To expand for those who don't know: Togo and Balto were both lead dogs owned/raised/trained by the same man (Leonhard Seppala) but they ran different sleds. Togo led the "A" team and Balto, being a lesser sled-dog, led the "bench" or "B" team. For the famous "serum run", Togo's team ran 261 miles, including the most dangerous section: 42 miles over frozen body of water. Whereas Balto's team only ran the final 55 miles. However, Balto got the credit because he carried the medicine into the town while Togo's team was still out in the wilderness. Seppala wrote: “I hope I shall never be the man to take away credit from any dog or driver who participated in that run. We all did our best. But when the country was roused to enthusiasm over the serum run driver, I resented the statue to Balto, for if any dog deserved special mention it was Togo.” There is a Disney movie named "Togo", which does a fantastic job of telling the story. According to comparison with best-available primary and secondary sources, the movie has astounding historic accuracy -- even though many, many times it seems like it "jumps the shark". The "true" story of Togo's life is so unbelievable that Disney's inaccuracies are more leaving things out that audiences would never be able to believe rather than putting in exaggerated over-the-top things.
- rythmshifter 4y ago
  where can I read the "true" story of Togo's life?
  - runnerup 4y ago
    Perhaps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog). Much of the wiki is borrowed from a more detailed book[0], "The Cruelest Miles" by Gay and Lainey Salisbury. 0: https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=27144DD0253AAAF50314993CE6860517 https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=27144DD0253AAAF50314993...
- nashashmi 4y ago
  That was a difficult movie to watch. It was filled with so much excitement and jitter. The periodic breaks into history did little to suppress the anxiety.
esaym 4y ago
At least Togo got a proper burial...
- paleotrope 4y ago
  That's partly why they are talking about Balto here. Balto's genes are readily accessible.
- runnerup 4y ago
  Erm, Togo's mounted skin is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska. https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/images/2019/12/togo/stftg.jpg https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/images/2019/12/...
  - b112 4y ago
    I never thought of this method of preserving a respected or loved animal! Now I wonder, can it be done for me, who would do it, and what cemetery would allow me to pay to display it.
    - runnerup 4y ago
      Entirely non-sarcastically, try: https://www.google.com/maps/search/taxidermy+near+me https://www.google.com/maps/search/taxidermy+near+me
      - b112 4y ago
        I think though, I might have to find someone skilled in pigs? My thought, is they're the closest to humans? And then, who wants to do it... even if they can? I think it would be awesome, to have a skin on display in a cemetery. A marble construct, tower like, with a airtight sealed glass front, with my skin, it in all its fineness.
        runnerup 4y ago
        OH, I didn't realize you meant human taxidermy. I believe that's not allowed except for science/education purposes such as "BODIES" and "Body World" exhibits: https://bodyworlds.com https://bodyworlds.com
bee_rider 4y ago
It is funny to project the concept of heroism to working animals… I bet Togo thought he had just been on a particularly exciting walk.

To expand for those who don't know: Togo and Balto were both lead dogs owned/raised/trained by the same man (Leonhard Seppala) but they ran different sleds. Togo led the "A" team and Balto, being a lesser sled-dog, led the "bench" or "B" team. For the famous "serum run", Togo's team ran 261 miles, including the most dangerous section: 42 miles over frozen body of water. Whereas Balto's team only ran the final 55 miles. However, Balto got the credit because he carried the medicine into the town while Togo's team was still out in the wilderness. Seppala wrote: “I hope I shall never be the man to take away credit from any dog or driver who participated in that run. We all did our best. But when the country was roused to enthusiasm over the serum run driver, I resented the statue to Balto, for if any dog deserved special mention it was Togo.” There is a Disney movie named "Togo", which does a fantastic job of telling the story. According to comparison with best-available primary and secondary sources, the movie has astounding historic accuracy -- even though many, many times it seems like it "jumps the shark". The "true" story of Togo's life is so unbelievable that Disney's inaccuracies are more leaving things out that audiences would never be able to believe rather than putting in exaggerated over-the-top things.

rythmshifter 4y ago
where can I read the "true" story of Togo's life?
- runnerup 4y ago
  Perhaps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_(dog). Much of the wiki is borrowed from a more detailed book[0], "The Cruelest Miles" by Gay and Lainey Salisbury. 0: https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=27144DD0253AAAF50314993CE6860517 https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=27144DD0253AAAF50314993...
nashashmi 4y ago
That was a difficult movie to watch. It was filled with so much excitement and jitter. The periodic breaks into history did little to suppress the anxiety.

esaym 4y ago

At least Togo got a proper burial...

paleotrope 4y ago
That's partly why they are talking about Balto here. Balto's genes are readily accessible.
runnerup 4y ago
Erm, Togo's mounted skin is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska. https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/images/2019/12/togo/stftg.jpg https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/images/2019/12/...
- b112 4y ago
  I never thought of this method of preserving a respected or loved animal! Now I wonder, can it be done for me, who would do it, and what cemetery would allow me to pay to display it.
  - runnerup 4y ago
    Entirely non-sarcastically, try: https://www.google.com/maps/search/taxidermy+near+me https://www.google.com/maps/search/taxidermy+near+me
    - b112 4y ago
      I think though, I might have to find someone skilled in pigs? My thought, is they're the closest to humans? And then, who wants to do it... even if they can? I think it would be awesome, to have a skin on display in a cemetery. A marble construct, tower like, with a airtight sealed glass front, with my skin, it in all its fineness.
      - runnerup 4y ago
        OH, I didn't realize you meant human taxidermy. I believe that's not allowed except for science/education purposes such as "BODIES" and "Body World" exhibits: https://bodyworlds.com https://bodyworlds.com

bee_rider 4y ago

It is funny to project the concept of heroism to working animals… I bet Togo thought he had just been on a particularly exciting walk.