“Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. Togo may not have a statute in central park, but he should have, right beside Balto. The Togo true story reveals that as a young puppy Togo required excessive care from Leonhard Seppala's wife Constance. If you grew up in the 1990s, you may remember an animated movie called Balto, about a sled dog that led a team of dogs across Alaska in 1925 to save the … Continue reading Review | Togo: The Untold True Story → Children were especially at risk, and Nome’s isolation created a nightmare scenario. She too was at risk of being stricken with diphtheria. When a deadly epidemic strikes […] Despite doing most of the work, the credit instead largely went to the Gunnar Kaasen-controlled sled dog Balto, who completed the last, 55-mile stretch of the Serum Run through a blizzard. as Cathy wrote, Togo was the true hero who ran over 250 miles where as Balto did the last leg of 50. The story of the mushers and their dogs--especially lead dogs-- and the race to get diphtheria vaccine to stricken Nome, Alaska is always breathtaking in its heroism and sense of community and commitment. From Disney+, “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo… We want to … During this time, Seppala himself won the All-Alaska Sweepstakes in 1915, 1916, and 1917. At the same time, the film is unnecessarily pompous, bloated and overly sentimental, accompanied by not very subtle string music. His journey through white-out storms and twice across the unforgiving Norton Sound was by far the most perilous leg of the run. Amazingly, in just five and a half days, the “Great Race of Mercy” was completed and the lifesaving serum was delivered to Nome. Disney's Togo vs. the True Story of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. However, with the fate of Nome in the balance, locals knew the aging yet experienced duo was their last, best hope. After Seppala's wife took care of the pup, after 6 months he sold the pup to be a pet. The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run yet was considered by most to be too small and weak to lead such an intense race. Clearly, there was something to be said for these smaller, yet scrappy, Siberians as stellar sled dogs. We all want to believe that movies "based on a true story" are real, especially when the movie is a feel-good story. The True Story Behind Disney’s New Doggo Movie Togo There is no denying that Balto is still a good guy, but Togo has a long time to make headlines. Above: Togo, immediately after completion of the 1925 Nome Serum Run. No more lies, no more falsehoods. Among those not selected by Seppala was Balto, whom the musher felt was yet unprepared to lead a team. Dafoe’s Seppala is a warm man chilled by the realities of his job. Here's the true story behind all the elements of Togo – before, during, and after the 1925 serum run – and how much of the Disney+ movie was fictionalized. Real Togo Sled Dog.Togo Born: October 17 ... Balto later inspired a 1995 animated movie that was loosely based on his story. A multi-team dog sled relay was arranged to deliver 300,000 units of serum, already en route to Nenana by rail, the remaining 674 miles to Nome. Real Togo Sled Dog.Togo Born: October 17 ... Balto later inspired a 1995 animated movie that was loosely based on his story. After he reached his adult weight of only about 48 pounds, the real Togo had a brown, black, and gray coat that made him look constantly dirty. Around that time, the first known Siberian Huskies in America were brought to Nome by Russian fur trader William Goosak. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, The True Story of Togo: Siberian Husky Sled Dog Hero of 1925 Nome Serum Run, Sigrid Seppala Hanks Collection, Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum. Summary: Togo is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. He put a harness on the 8-month-old Togo and hooked him into the team. In short, Togo is a classic Disney movie, for better or worse. 10 Dog Lover Quotes from Togo. On the return trip across the Sound, the team became stranded on an ice floe. Together, they embark on an exhilarating and uplifting adventure across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra to help transport an antitoxin serum to a small town, and it is a journey that will test his strength, courage and determination. At the time, many of the Nome’s finest sled dogs were found in Seppala’s kennel. Togo's real-life story had a less happy ending than what unfolds in the Disney movie. For years, Balto, who also came from Seppala’s kennel, was celebrated, even earning a statue in New York’s Central Park. Another musher, Gunnar Kaasen, put his faith in a green youngster, ... where a special exhibit tells his story. After Seppala's wife took care of the pup, after 6 months he sold the pup to be a pet. While Kaasen and Balto were given much of the glory, it was Seppala and Togo who insiders knew had truly saved the day. Disney+ is highlighting one of those forgotten hero hounds in the the film Togo. This is the true story that Togo is based on. Who is the real Togo? December 13, 2019. Who needs a green screen when you have Alberta as a backdrop? We pit Disney's Togo movie vs. the true story of Leonhard Seppala, the real ...Togo Movie Dog Diesel. The diphtheria serum was first transported by train from Anchorage northward to Nenana, Alaska. © The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2021. Diesel. Togo led Seppala’s team in races and excursions long and short, and dog and man became inseparable. These are the stories of my 27 months of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa. Born: Estimated to be 1913, according to many reliable quotes, including from Leonhard Seppala himself, which place his age at 12 years in 1925, the year of the … A True Story When I first permanently arrived at post, I decided to repaint the walls in my house because they were badly in need of … The true story behind Togo confirms that as a result of his relatively small size, illness, and bad behavior as a young puppy, Leonhard Seppala decided that Togo was not sled dog material and gave him away to be a house pet when he was six months old. The true story behind Togo confirms that as a result of his relatively small size, illness, and bad behavior as a young puppy, Leonhard Seppala decided that Togo was not sled dog material and gave him away to be a house pet when he was six months old. But Togo left his new owners house and went back to Seppala. Step aside, Balto, Disney+ is giving us another very good doggo his due in the Dec. 20 premiere of the streaming site's original movie based on a true story, Togo. Essential info about dog health, training, sports and more. While the lead dog of the 53-mile final leg, Balto, would become famous for his role in the run, many argue that it was Seppala and his Siberian Husky lead dog, Togo, who were the true saviors of the day. It was −50 °F in Fairbanks. Impressed, Leonhard decided to keep him. Those dogs, topping out around 50 pounds, would surprise by taking third in the annual All-Alaska Sweepstakes race in 1909. In researching the. He immediately began the trek back across Norton Sound without pausing to rest.The conditions on the return trip were even worse. Leonhard Seppala's experience and fame as a champion dog musher are why he was chosen to drive a sled dog team in the Serum Run. Yes. https://www.akc.org/subscription/thank-you. www.historyvshollywood.com Despite his unusual characteristics, Togo would go on to lead the 1925 serum run in Alaska. Most recently, Togo was featured in the AKC Museum of the Dog exhibition “Mush! But Togo left his new owners house and went back to Seppala. The True Story of Togo: Siberian Husky Sled Dog Hero of 1925 Nome Serum Run. The Norwegian-born Seppala first arrived in Alaska in 1900, when most sled dogs were burly Alaskan Malamutes or mixed breeds. Notes: - Togo was 12 years old in 1925...that's pretty advanced in age for a sled dog, let alone a lead dog (most of them are retired by that age)! The True Story of 'Togo': Inside Disney+'s Sled Dog Drama Starring Willem Dafoe (Exclusive) By John Boone‍ 4:00 PM PST, December 16, 2019 … In advanced cases, diphtheria can also cause the neck to swell, in part due to swollen lymph nodes, resulting in a condition nicknamed "bull neck" (visible below). If you grew up in the 1990s, you may remember an animated movie called Balto, about a sled dog that led a team of dogs across Alaska in 1925 to save the … Continue reading Review | Togo: The Untold True Story → Diesel. Temperatures across the Interior were at 20-year lows. Togo (October 17, 1913 – December 5, 1929) was the lead sled dog of Leonhard Seppala and his dog sled team in the 1925 serum run to Nome across central and northern Alaska. The film centers on Leonhard Seppala and his titular sled dog in the 1925 serum run to Nome to transport diphtheria antitoxin serum through harsh conditions during an epidemic of diphtheria. Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog team led by Togo spent three days traveling 170 miles from Nome to Shaktoolik to pick up the diphtheria serum on January 31, 1925. In 1914, he competed in the All Alaska Sweepstakes, a sled dog race. An antitoxin was located, but the nearest point which the serum could reach by rail was Nenana, located 674 miles from Nome. History vs. Hollywood visited the headquarters in 2013 and captured the photo of Togo displayed below. Kaasen, who was in charge of Balto, suffered frostbite to his fingers after strong winds blew his sled over. Yes. As Togo grew, he became captivated by the working sled dogs surrounding him. "Togo" is the true story set in the winter of 1925 of champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. His penchant for mischief led to a mauling when he ran up on a team of much larger Malamutes. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, often by way of direct contact or through droplets in the air (sneezing or coughing). This membrane (visible below over a patient's tonsils) covers healthy tissues in the throat, nose, tonsils and voice box, causing a croup-like cough, as well as severe difficulty breathing and swallowing. Ultimately, Seppala and New England musher Elizabeth Ricker chose to open a kennel of Siberians in Poland Spring, Maine. CBC Calgary. On February 3rd, 1925, Kaasen and Balto rode into Nome to a hero’s welcome. The two teams nearly missed each other on the trail, but, thanks in part to the dogs, the connection was made. Togo. The untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. With a blizzard approaching, air travel was ruled out. . Seppala also won the All Alaska Sweepstakes in 1916 and 1917, before the race was canceled until 1983. This seems to be exaggerated a bit for the film. Nome is clear across the state from Fairbanks, a flight distance of approximately 521 miles. He said goodbye to Togo and gave the dog to fellow sled dog musher, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. A new Disney movie starring Willem Dafoe promises to chart the life of a historically overlooked pup, Togo, who made a lifesaving delivery of medicine possible. In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria in the remote port of Nome, Alaska, threatened the lives of the 10,000-plus living in the area. Officials decided to add more teams to the relay, unbeknownst to Seppala. In the years following the serum run, Seppala made trips to the Lower 48 states with his heroic sled dogs. 3 The Legacy of Togo. Based on a true story, Togo follows veteran dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala (played by … The serum had arrived, and the town had been saved. By that time, he had already been a lead sled dog for seven years. According to the Siberian Husky Club of America, all of the breed’s registered dogs of today can trace their ancestry to the dogs from the Seppala-Ricker kennel or Harry Wheeler’s kennel. All rights reserved. The next day a seven-year-old girl was diagnosed and Welch tried to give her expired antitoxin (all that was on hand) in hopes that it would work, but she died several hours later. Though Balto often gets the credit for saving the town of Nome, it was Togo, a Siberian Husky, who led his team across the most dangerous leg of the journey. Move over Balto, the story you think you know about the 1925 Nome Diptheria epidemic is about to get a whole new hero. As deaths from the disease mounted, the decision to act was made. Related Article: Togo: History vs. … That summer, English musher Fox Ramsay imported 60 of the finest specimens he found in Siberia to Nome. After cutting across the treacherously frozen Norton Sound to save time and distance, Seppala miraculously ran right into the team of Henry Ivanoff, one of the relay’s late additions, which was carrying the serum westward. Yes. Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog team led by Togo traveled 340 miles roundtrip to pick up the serum and start bringing it back, eventually handing it off to Charlie Olson's team. Named after Heihachiro Togo, a Japanese Admiral who fought in the war between Russia and Japan (1904-05), Togo was the lead sled dog of Leonhard Seppala. “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 of champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. Seppala himself passed away in 1967 at the age of 89. The only planes they had were water-cooled aircraft from World War I, which didn't perform well in cold weather. “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 of champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. In 2019, his story was retold in the riveting Disney+ movie  Togo, starring Togo’s own descendant Diesel as the namesake Siberian. togo true story What’s Fact and What’s Fiction in Togo The Disney+ movie Togo is about the heroic run of the titular Siberian husky, who led a team of sled dogs across hundreds of miles to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome, Alaska, during an outbreak of the disease in 1925. Togo. We all want to believe that movies "based on a true story" are real, especially when the movie is a feel-good story. From Disney+, “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. The main … Seppala traveled all the way to New England and took on a team of local Chinooks in a friendly sled dog race. Move over Balto, the story you think you know about the 1925 Nome Diptheria epidemic is about to get a whole new hero. So if you want to remain completely in the dark about this movie (although it is based on a true, untold story), maybe bookmark this page for another day. In 1932, Seppala returned to Alaska, whereupon the kennel closed and the dogs were delegated to friend Harry Wheeler. Named after Heihachiro Togo, a Japanese Admiral who fought in the war between Russia and Japan (1904-5) as well as other conflicts. In researching the Togo true story, we learned that in real life Leonhard and his wife Constance had a daughter named Sigrid, who was eight years old at the time of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. A relay of 20 teams was assembled, including that of Leonhard Seppala, Alaska’s most venerated musher. Yes. Together, they embark on an exhilarating and uplifting adventure across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra to help transport an antitoxin serum to a small town, and it is a journey that will test his strength, courage and determination. Seppala became interested in dog sledding during his first winter in Alaska when he became a sled dog driver for Lindeberg's company. It is time to know the reality. During the serum run, he was not a lead dog, he was paired up with a dog named Fox. Still too young for a harness, he often got loose to run alongside teams training with Seppala, much to his owner’s anguish. Togo ultimately ran 75 miles that day and worked his way up to lead on his first-ever time in a harness. Symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and include a fever, sore throat and weakness. In the winter of 1924-1925, a diphtheria epidemic was threatening the town of Nome, located on the southern Seward Peninsula on the northwestern coast of Alaska. We pit Disney's Togo movie vs. the true story of Leonhard Seppala, the real ...Togo Movie Dog Diesel. Desperate, he sent radiotelegrams to the other major towns in Alaska and one to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C., pleading for help. That Balto is praised while the real architect of the heroic act attributed to him is a totally different dog, who was forgotten, is totally unacceptable. The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run yet was considered by most to be too small and weak to lead such an intense race. It seemed to Seppala that he was stuck with the incorrigible pup. Copyright © 2021 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Willem Dafoe's character states in the movie that Togo was named after the underdog Japanese admiral and naval hero Tōgō Heihachirō. By the time the diphtheria outbreak struck in 1925, Togo was 12 years old and Seppala 47, both seemingly past their primes. Norwegian immigrant Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) raises sled dogs but he's perpetually annoyed by the persistence of one pesky pup the man considers ill-equipped for sledding because of his small size. Togo and his owner, Leonhard Seppala, faced cruel conditions as they battled the wilderness together. Despite his unusual characteristics, Togo would go on to lead the 1925 serum run in Alaska. Like in the film, Seppala almost missed musher Henry Ivanoff, who had been in Shaktoolik in case Seppala didn't arrive. as Cathy wrote, Togo was the true hero who ran over 250 miles where as Balto did the last leg of 50. With Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer. Togo sired some offspring during that time, and then died of old age in 1929 (Seppala had him "put to sleep" to ease his passing). Togo is based on the true story of a Siberian Husky sled dog. Disney's Togo vs. the True Story of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. Under the employ of the Pioneer Mining Company, Seppala began making a name for himself as one of the strongest mushers in Nome. The main … If you love Balto, you have to love Togo. The story of the mushers and their dogs--especially lead dogs-- and the race to get diphtheria vaccine to stricken Nome, Alaska is always breathtaking in its heroism and sense of community and commitment. The film's original title is Togo. If you love Balto, you have to love Togo. Who is the real Togo? Disney doesn't. To a large degree, yes. The polar night also meant that there were limited hours of daylight to fly. This can lead to death from asphyxiation. A relay of 20 sled dog teams then traveled a distance of 674 miles from Nenana to Nome. Togo was the best dog that ever traveled the Alaska trail."). With temperatures hovering around -30 degrees, Seppala and his dogs made incredible time in their mad dash east, covering over 170 miles in just three days. Naturally, it then fell to Seppala and Togo to bring the serum back towards Nome. The True Story of 'Togo': Inside Disney+'s Sled Dog Drama Starring Willem Dafoe (Exclusive) ... the underdog Siberian husky whose untold true story is … Most famous among modern dog sled races, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is held each year in March, with parts of the route traversing the same 1925 serum run trails taken all those years ago. In 2001, Togo received his own statue in NYC’s Seward Park. After all, Balto was 3 years old when he raced those last 55 miles to deliver serum to Aurum. Over the years, Togo became known across Alaska for his tenacity, strength, endurance, and intelligence as Seppala’s prized lead dog. 1 From Rambunctious Pup To Legendary Lead.Togo in single lead on a trail in 1921.Courtesy of Sigrid Seppala Hanks Collection, Carrie M. McLain ... 2 Togo & the 1925 Nome Serum Run. It was only in the previous February that the first airmail flight in Alaska took place. In 1910’s All-Alaska Sweepstakes, an all-Siberian team driven by musher “Iron Man” Johnson took first place in what remains a course record. The victory is depicted as a flashback in the movie. “Smart” because it shows the dog as both a puppy who's too small for mushing and then 12 years later as a proven leader, steering his sled master Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and other dogs on a journey to bring back a serum to their small Alaskan town of dying children. The quick-thinking Seppala tied a lead to Togo, his only hope, and tossed the dog across five feet of water. Over the years, Togo became known across Alaska for his tenacity, strength, endurance, and intelligence as Seppala’s prized lead dog. It was also the longest by roughly 200 miles. Diphtheria can attack healthy tissues in the respiratory system. Over the years, more and more began to recognize Togo as the serum run’s true hero dog. While none of the mushers lost their lives, several of them succumbed to frostbite, including Charlie Olson and Gunnar Kaasen, who completed the final two legs of the journey. This is the true story that Togo is based on. Valsen Fiduciaries > Uncategorised Uncategorised > is togo, a true story is togo, a true story Late additions to this final stretch of the relay included musher Gunnar Kaasen who, against Seppala’s instincts, had chosen Balto to lead his team. His skeleton is in the Peabody Museum of Natural History's collection at Yale University. "Togo" is the true story set in the winter of 1925 of champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog, Togo. All told, the 12-year-old Togo and Seppala traversed an astounding 264 miles, compared to an average of 31 miles each for the other teams. 'Togo' is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that treks across the terrain of the Alaskan tundra for adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. “Togo” (now playing on Disney+) is a smart, affectionately made tale about an underdog and his musher. This story is far from the truth. Togo and his owner, Leonhard Seppala, faced cruel conditions as they battled the wilderness together. A Tribute to Sled Dogs From Arctic Exploration to the Iditarod,” on view now through March 29th, 2020. Tuesday, November 25, 2008. True Story about The Siberian Husky puppy named Togo was born in 1913. The film Togo: The Untold True Story is a 113 minute adventure / drama / biography from 2019, directed by Ericson Core. The untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. www.historyvshollywood.com Founded in 1884, the AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for dogs. The owner, Seppala got a puppy but he did not believe the dog would be any use to him or his sled dog team due to the pup being sick. Feb 20, 2020 - A complete Journey about dogs, We offer you a free information about dog training, dogs grooming, dog kennels, names, dog breeds and health care. While the lead dog of the 53-mile final leg, For years, Balto, who also came from Seppala’s kennel, was celebrated, even earning, The Norwegian-born Seppala first arrived in Alaska in 1900, when most sled dogs were burly, iy_2021; im_04; id_11; ih_15; imh_02; i_epoch:1618178571946, py_2021; pm_01; pd_25; ph_07; pmh_44; p_epoch:1611589466280, link-block; link-block_link-block; bodystr, pn_tstr:Mon Jan 25 07:44:26 PST 2021; pn_epoch:1611589466280. His mounted skin is currently on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska. Seppala and his team again traversed the exposed open ice of Norton Sound, which was breaking up. The untold story of Togo is based on true events. Togo is based on the true story of a Siberian Husky sled dog. Discover what really happened to Togo after the 1925 Serum relay to Nome. The puppy was significantly smaller and weaker than other young puppies in the same litter so the breeder was concerned about whether the puppy would survive or not. 329,530 Views. The darkness and a blizzard also made it impossible for Leonhard Seppala to see where he was going. Norwegian immigrant Leonhard Seppala ( Willem Dafoe ) raises sled dogs but he's perpetually annoyed by the persistence of one pesky pup the man considers ill-equipped for sledding because of his small size. The real Togo spent a few weeks at his new home before he jumped through the glass of a shut window and ran several miles back to Leonhard's kennel. All the while, the outbreak worsened back in Nome. When Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog Togo began the relay to transport diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Togo was 12 years old, which is practically ancient for a sled dog. 'Togo' is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that treks across the terrain of the Alaskan tundra for adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. Unwittingly, Seppala had found himself the perfect lead dog for which he had always yearned. “Togo” is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. Now I am keeping these quotes as spoiler free as I can, but keep in mind Togo hits Disney+ on December 20th. Togo As A Puppy As depicted in Disney+'s Togo , the titular pooch had a very sickly youth and required the excessive care and attention of Seppala's wife Constance ( portrayed by Julianne Nicholson ). A relay of 20 teams was assembled, including that of Leonhard Seppala, Alaska’s most venerated musher. The film Togo: The Untold True Story is a 113 minute adventure / drama / biography from 2019, directed by Ericson Core. A fitting tribute, the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award is given to the Iditarod musher each year judged to have taken the best care of their dogs. Togo refused to be parted from Seppala and his teams and later escaped his adoptee's home by jumping through a window. Summary: Togo is the untold true story set in the winter of 1925 that takes you across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra for an exhilarating and uplifting adventure that will test the strength, courage and determination of one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo. Togo was the true champion of the Serum Run. Step aside, Balto, Disney+ is giving us another very good doggo his due in the Dec. 20 premiere of the streaming site's original movie based on a true story, Togo… Despite covering the most distance of any lead dogs on the run, over some of the most dangerous parts of the trail, his role was left out of contemporary news of the event at the time, in favor of the last lead dog in the relay, Balto. Unlike the movie, Leonhard Seppala eventually decided that he wanted Togo to live out the remainder of his life in comfort. Togo - A Capsule History. Movie Info.