By Conner McClain Reviewed by: Pawrade Team
Dogs have long been considered man’s best friend, but some dogs go above and beyond (whether they mean to or not) to find fame and glory! Throughout history, stories of our faithful friends making headlines and winning notoriety have captivated our hearts. Oftentimes, those stories are turned into great dog books and amazing movies about dogs, though generally with some deviation. Here is a list of 10 famous dogs from the last century! Fair warning, not all of these stories are happy.
by Gunnar Kaasen, was in charge of the second-to-last leg of the relay. However, when Kaasen and his team reached the station to pass off the medicine, the musher and his team were asleep. To save time, Kaasen decided to press on, completing the last leg of the relay himself and adding 25 extra miles to his route. Miraculously, none of the medicine had been damaged along the way, and Balto, as lead dog, was lauded as a hero. Ten months later, a statue of Balto was erected in Central Park, New York City, where it still stands today. Unfortunately, the story may not be all that we think it is. A surprising amount of controversy has surrounded the feat. Some have accused Kaasen of trying to be a glory hog by completing the last leg himself instead of passing off the medicine to the next musher, Ed Rohn. There is also considerable ire at the amount of attention and publicity that Balto and Kaasen received despite the efforts of the other dog sled teams, namely Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo, who covered more distance than any other team over some of the most dangerous territory. Nevertheless, Balto is undoubtedly one of the most famous dogs in American history. Apart from his statue in Central Park, he is also on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Additionally, various depictions with a variety of accuracy feature Balto, most notably the 1995 feature film from Universal Studios.
2. Hachiko - White Akita
Hachiko, the white Akita, was born on November 10, 1923. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the Tokyo Imperial University, took him in as a pet. Every day, Ueno would commute to work. Every day, Hachiko would leave the house at the end of the day to greet him at Shibuya Station. The pair continued this routine until May 21, 1925, when Ueno didn’t return. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture and died. For the next nine years, nine months, and 15 days (for a grand total of 3,575 days), Hachiko returned to Shibuya Station at the appointed time and awaited his friend, arriving precisely when the train was due. Regular commuters began to notice Hachiko, some of whom remembered seeing the pair together. Initial reactions weren’t entirely kind until he appeared in a news article in 1932. Afterward, people began to bring Hachiko treats and food.
1. Balto - Alaskan Husky
In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak struck the town of Nome, Alaska. The only medicine available to treat the outbreak was in Anchorage, more than 500 miles away. Officials decided to deliver the medicine by train part of the way and a musher relay would carry the serum the rest of the way. More than 20 mushers participated in the 1925 serum run to Nome, facing -23° F weather and strong winds. Balto’s team, led
One of Ueno’s students, Hirokichi Saito,
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 33
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