Balto, the Alaskan Husky who would become famous for running the final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome, was euthanized on March 15th, 1933. The reason was determined to be that his age of 14 required it.

Balto was used as the lead dog in  Gunnar Kaasen‘s sled team, taking diphtheria antitoxin to the northwest community of Nome. He would become famous and be the subject of a two-reel motion picture, a statue in New York’s Central Park, and a nationwide tour.

Soon after, the owner, Leonhard Seppala, and Kassen had a falling out, and Balto was sold under disputed circumstances to a traveling circus operator. Balto would end up living in squalor at an LA dime museum.

The city of Cleveland would hear of Balto’s circumstances in 1927 and set out to purchase him and move him to Cleveland. He would live at the Brookside Zoo for the remainder of his years until at the age of 14 he was euthanized in 1933. His remains would be mounted and displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for all to view, where it remains.

Because of his body type, no records were kept of his birth, and his birth was only noted by Seppal,  The small, stocky, and tack-coated Balto was also considered a scrub dog and so was neutered.

The governor of Alaska, after seeing Seppala’s team experiencing fatigue,  ordered Kaasan to take a relief team to Seppala. Once there, Kaasen ordered Balto as a team co- leader. Seppala disagreed.

Because of years of hauling freight and cargo as well as pulling railcars, Balto would, through strenuous circumstances, prove himself as a blizzard took over the trail and the team became confused. Kaasen told Balto, “Go home, Balto.” Stocky and strong, Balto would take his team to Nome, forever cementing the husky into Alaska history.

Today is the 101st year since he perished.

  balto, cleveland, nome, run, serum