The Resume

(circa 1919-March 14, 1933)
Siberian husky
Lead dog in the team that ran the final leg of the serum run to Nome (1925)
Appeared in the silent film 'Balto's Race to Nome' (1926)
Preserved remains on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Serum run inspired the creation of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (1973)

Why he might be annoying:

Although Balto got the fame, the longest and most hazardous leg of the relay was run by a team headed by Togo.
A statue of Balto in Central Park shows him wearing Togo's awards.
Togo's musher, Leonhard Seppala, complained, 'It was almost more than I could bear when the 'newspaper dog' Balto received a statue for his 'glorious achievements.''
Alaska has launched an unsuccessful 'Bring Back Balto' campaign.

Why he might not be annoying:

The success of the serum run prevented a diphtheria epidemic in Nome.
He kept his team on track during whiteout conditions.
It's not as if Balto himself was actively promoting himself and downgrading Togo.
In a bit of pettiness, Seppala kept Balto from attending a ceremony where Togo was presented an award by Roald Amundsen.
Because he had been neutered at a young age and thus could not be put to stud, he ended up neglected and badly treated on the vaudeville circuit.
Clevleand boxer turned businessman George Kimble organized a fundraising campaign by the city's children that rescued Balto and the other members of his dog team from the sideshow and got them a home at the Cleveland Zoo.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 30]
• Castrated
• Central Park Statues
• Dogs
• I Am Vaudeville [A-L]
• I Died in 1933 (Ranked: 14)
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Menagerie of Animals
• My Remains are on Display
• Profiles 29251-29500 (Ranked: 29323)
• The Circle Of Life Comes To An End: Died On Pi Day (March 14th) (Ranked: 1933)
• When Bad Things Happen to Good Animals

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 202 Votes: 53.96% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 165 Votes: 57.58% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 14 Votes: 21.43% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 6.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 73 Votes: 52.05% Annoying