Date: 3 March, 1933.
Balto groaned. He could barely see, and moving caused great pain. He knew his days were numbered, but his spirit was still the wild one he had had back in 1925.
If only his body were that young.
To keep his mind off the pain, Balto reflected on his first adventure for Nome.
The bear. The ice. The blizzard.
The avalanche.
It was all part of his legacy.
He would never forget.

Date: 8 March, 1933.
Balto awoke with a start. his vision was nearly gone now, he could see only the brightest lights.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Kodi. Remember, dad?"
"Of course I remember, I ain't getting senile, just old."
Today, Balto reflected on the events of 1928.
The mail.
The job.
Kodi. Proud of his father.
The plane.
Flying.

Date: 13 March, 1933.
Balto was completely blind now. He wasn't going to last much longer.
He felt strong hands carrying him. Warm air.
The smell of antisceptic.
Late in his life, Balto reflected on 1927.
Aleu.
The bear.
The wolverines.
The raven.
Aniu.
The wolves.
The ice.
The dreams.
The running.

Date: 14 March, 1933.
"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. He's completely blind. Arthritus."
"What can we do, doctor?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to put him down."
A shot.
Balto smiled. This was the last adventure left for him.
"He's gone."
Balto ran once more.
Balto flew once more.
He was free.


Yes, Balto fans, you read right. On the fourteenth of March, 1933, Balto was euthanized for arthritis and increasing blindness.
His body was preserved and is on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Balto did not die in Alaska. He died in Cleveland, Ohio.