Balto was the name of a Siberian Husky, born in 1923 and died 1933. He was a sled dog. He was the back up for a dog named Togo. Balto took part in the 1925 serum run to Nome. He got a lot of fame for being part of the journey, more than Togo. Many people say Togo should have gotten the attention that Balto got because Togo did the most work. Leonhard Seppala bred, named, raised, and trained Balto but did not race with him. In a 1927 New York Times article, he claimed that a forgotten dog named Fox had been co-lead with Balto on Kaasen’s team. He did not believe that Balto could have led the team by himself. Gunnar Kaasen was Balto’s musher.
In January 1925, Nome, Alaska needed medicine for a diphtheria epidemic. First, a ship tried to bring the medicine but ice was closing into the Bering Sea. The ship could not get to Nome. Next, they tried to bring the medicine by airplane. They could not because there was a blizzard (snow storm). The winds were too strong for the plane. So the medicine was sent by train from Anchorage, Alaska to Nenena, Alaska. Then sled dogs took turns carrying the medicine to Nome. The dog that ran the longest was Togo. Balto was the final dog. He lead the team into Nome. The medicine saved many children (almost all of the children). Balto, the other dogs, and the men who carried the medicine were given a hero's welcome. A few months later in New York City, a statue of Balto was placed in Central Park. It is still there today.