Name: Togo

Gender: Male

Age: 12 (in 1925)

Breed: Siberian Husky (65%)/Alaskan Malamute (35%)

Parents: Suggen (father)/Dolly (mother)

Siblings: Fritz, Scotty (half-brothers from mother), Vasta (half-sister from father); Togo was the only survivor of his own littermates...the others died very early.

Personality: Dignified, patient, wise

Voice: George Clooney (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000123)

Relation To Balto universe: Presently lives just outside of Nome with his owner and several other Siberian Huskies...is Balto's mentor and friend.  Taught Balto a great deal about being a sled dog.

Story: Togo is one of the most legendary dogs of Alaska, and known as a hero not only to humans, but to most dogs as well (especially sled dogs).  He was born in the kennel of Leonhard Seppala, the most famous musher in the Alaska territory.  His father, Suggen, was one of Seppala’s great racing leaders – and was part Siberian Husky, and part Alaskan Malamute.  His mother, Dolly, was a purebred Siberian Husky.  His markings are called “agouti”, and he is mostly dark brown in color.  Togo is small in size for a husky (especially one which has Alaskan Malamute in his blood), topping out at only fifty pounds.

When Togo was a puppy, he was unruly and disobedient, wanting desperately to run on Seppala’s dog team.  He often would escape from the kennel to run after Seppala’s team when it was on the trail, barking and nipping at the legs of the team members (until they would grow weary of it and reprimand him).  Togo’s mischief finally caught up with him when once, out on the trail, he ran up to a team of tough Alaskan Malamutes, and was mauled.  Seppala rushed to get him medical attention, and in time Togo returned to good health, with only a damaged right ear to show for it.

Finally, Seppala decided to put the puppy’s energy to use, and try him on his team when Togo was a little older.  In this capacity, Togo demonstrated remarkable intelligence, dedication and steadfastness.  He quickly moved up the ranks of Seppala’s team, eventually taking over his father’s former duties as a lead dog.  In time, Togo proved remarkably talented at this job, and earned fame for himself, among dogs and humans alike, for helping Seppala win races, helping with emergencies, and entertaining the citizens of Nome. 

Togo eventually stumbled upon Boris, the snow goose, and the two became friends.  In time Balto, as a young, dazed, half-starved puppy, wandered onto the outskirts of Nome and was found by Boris and taken in.  Boris asked Togo to serve as a mentor to Balto, to teach him all about dog sledding and about being a dog.  Togo became, to Balto, not only a mentor, but another father figure.  And when Balto and Jenna had their own puppies, Togo (like Boris) became a surrogate uncle for them, and grew very close to each.*

As Togo aged, he began to slow down, but he continued to be viewed, by almost all the dogs of Nome and the surrounding region, as one of the greatest, wisest and most knowledgeable sled dogs to ever live in Alaska.  Togo has fathered many of his own puppies over time. 

In my fan fiction “The Passing of Togo”, he is in his sixteenth year, and spends his last couple of days among the dogs and people of Nome, before being ferried off by Aniu, the white wolf, into the afterlife, following one final heroic adventure.  This is one version of his history (*as is his connection with Boris and the movie Balto).  I also have an alternate Balto character, based upon the real Balto, with whom Togo lived in Seppala’s kennels, and with whom he was a good friend.

These wonderful images were created for this fan character by CatWhoHas14Tails, based upon actual photographs of the real Togo (which definitely rules out any mistaken idea that he is a "sparkledog", in case that comes up at any point), whom this character is based upon.  If anyone would like to see photos of the real Togo to compare to Cat’s images, I would be happy to show anyone who PMs me.  She did an amazing job!

(More information can be found here: http://www.animationsource.org/board/fan-characters-based-off-of-real-serum-run-dogs-t32007.html)

**PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS CHARACTER WITHOUT PERMISSION!  I'd also like to see any/all fan art of him.