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While they were touring the United States, Balto and his team weren't treated very well. I mean they were glorified and praised when they were in public, but one of the guys who kept them put them in a dark, damp room and didn't treat them very good. I love animals, and especially Balto, and I can't stand to see him like that. Seriously, after a few seconds, I just had to look away because I couldn't stand it. I Love You Balto!

Balto's is Nomes Heart land. Least he was treated respectivly before his deat instead of being in LA being treated like garbage.

Poor Balto... I hate to see the hero of Nome in so much pain near the end of his life...

The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper was a major force in the rescue of the team in March, 1927. The paper ran daily articles about that. Same thing with regards to Balto's last days. Based on the contents of those articles, this photo was probably taken about five days or so before Balto passed away. Please refer to this newspaper for further details.

That's a really heart-breaking photo for sure. It's hard to see him like that after seeing and hearing about him in more strong and positive lights. Really powerful image, so thanks for sharing it for us to see, even if it's so sad.

That is so heart-breaking...

that's wrong! a hero to have such a bitter last photo! good bye, dear balto

There is nothing bitter about this photo. It was probably originally taken to document his care in his final days. You cannot go into something like this, as a layman, presuming something negative out of a photo unless you have detailed information.

As it is, the biographical information of the photo simply refers to Balto being examined by Dr. Brinker, while "Captain" Curley Wilson, his keeper at the old Cleveland Brookside Zoo (a man whom Balto would have come to know and trusted long before this was taken), holds him for the doctor.

A combination of accounts obtained from The Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Cleveland Press newspapers, a retired CMNH staff member, a retired member of the Balto Historical Society, and officials of the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Zoo have all contributed to establishing the date of this photo and providing other details about Balto during his last days.

Cleveland City Veterinarian Dr. W. T. Brinker examined Balto at the Brookside Zoo on Thursday, March 9, 1933 after the zoo reported the dog was seriously ill. The photo shown at the beginning of this topic was taken by The Cleveland Press paper during that examination. Curley Wilson, who is also shown in this photo, was the head zookeeper at the Brookside Zoo. A man by the name of Philip Scharf was Balto's actual keeper and had served in that capacity since the dogs came to the zoo six years earlier.

Dr. Brinker diagnosed that Balto only had a few days to live. Balto was immediately taken to the Cleveland dog hospital of Dr. R. R. Powell. On Saturday, March 11th Dr. Powell reported that Balto was showing some signs of improvement. But Dr. Powell also cautioned "We won't know until late tomorrow whether we can save him."

On the evening of Sunday, March 12th Dr. Powell provided the update everyone was waiting for. Balto's condition was still improving. But Dr. Powell also warned that "the dog's chances of recovery are complicated by his advanced age." In every newspaper article covering this situation, Balto's age was given as 14 years old.

On Tuesday, March 14th Dr. Powell reported that Balto had "slipped into a comatose state" that morning. Acting upon the advice of the Balto Board of Trustees, Dr. Powell "used hypodermics to ease his last hours." Balto died that afternoon at 2:15 PM. An autopsy revealed that all of Balto's internal organs were normal, except for the bladder which "was greatly enlarged."

Balto's body was turned over to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where it would later be put on display. Balto's mount is shorter in height and longer in length than his body was in real life. It was prepared by Frank Tobin who was primarily a fish taxidermist.

Best wishes for the new year.

How is that "burning" you? All I did was respond. Don't jump to conclusions, and try not to be so hypersensitive. On a place like Animatin Source, that won't serve you well.

Because he said it was bitter, and that was his OPINION, to which you responded "you CANNOT go into something like this, as a layman" etc. etc.

Let him have his opinion without telling him what he can or can't have an opinion about. You should take your own advice about not being hypersensitive. I think it's a sad photo, you gonna tell me I'm wrong too? And why aren't you getting on anybody else's case for saying they think it's sad? Hypocrisy at its finest.

Grow up and let it go.

Once again, as so many times before, Xaqtly...

Stop. Flame. Baiting.

Ugh. Unbelievable.

Please stay on topic, and don't flame bait on the forums, if you have a problem with a member, PM them for a PRIVATE discussion instead of starting a flame war in the forums.