Contrary to popular rumors Balto and Togo WERE NOT on the same dog team. Leonard Seppala owned both but chose not to use Balto but Togo on the serum run. Leonard Seppala is famous for only resting briefly during the run and pushing himself and his dogs beyond the limits of endurance to get the serum through. He did this because his own daughter died of diptheria. Balto didn't come into the picture until the last 80 miles of the run. Balto became famous for two reasons the first was he stopped the team from going over thin ice and to their deaths. The second reason is when they Balto and his team reached the last check point and the spot were the serum was supposed to be handed off to the next team there was no one there. so Balto's team had to pull a double shift and finish the run alone. The strange thing is Togos team went 250 miles and balto's went only 80 but Balto is famous and Togo is not.

Every year in honor of Seppala at the end of the Iditarod the Leongard Seppala Humanitarian Award is given out to the Iditarod musher who according to veterinarians has taken the best care of his or her dogs on the trail.