Togo

Born in December 1913, Togo was initially considered too small and unruly to be a sled dog. He proved his naysayers wrong, however, breaking out of kennels, chasing after Seppala's team, and eventually earning his place as the lead dog and, by many accounts, the true hero of the 1925 "Great Race of Mercy."

While his teammate Balto got much of the glory and a statue in Central Park, it was Togo who led Leonhard Seppala's team on the longest, most dangerous stretch of the 1925 serum run, covering 260 miles through treacherous blizzard conditions. He displayed remarkable intelligence, strength, and endurance, navigating through whiteouts and saving his team from falling into Norton Sound.

After his heroic run, Togo continued to compete in sled races, even visiting New York City with Seppala. He was retired to private ownership in Maine, living a long and distinguished life until his passing in 1929. His preserved remains are proudly displayed at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.

So, while Balto might have been the face of the operation, Togo was undoubtedly the brains, the brawn, and the furry heart that truly delivered the goods. A very good boy indeed, even if not a Member of the Tribe.