 | "Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities. |
Every dog must have his day.
-- Jonathan Swift
Jack Wag those tails and tell those stories of courage under fire - Dogs are heroes every day. I know mine is. Jack, my 8 month old chocolate lab, wakes us up every morning, wagging his entire back end with a toy in his month and head on the bed, as close to mine as possible. We have no choice but to wake up laughing, kissing, and speaking dog talk! Dogs tell their stories through their actions of love, kindness, instinct, bravery and courage. Kids are drawn to dog tales, true and fictional - that's why there's usually a waiting list to check out those books from the library. As a storyteller, I have a favorite true story of Balto.
Balto- Lead Sled dog saves the lives of over a Thousand People
January 20, 1925 a call went out via radio signal from Nome, Alaska: Nome calling…Nome calling…We have an outbreak of diphtheria…No Serum…Urgently need help…Nome calling…Nome calling...
A race for life began to try and save the Inuit children who were so vulnerable. An anti-diphtheria serum was desperately needed to stop this raging disease. Anchorage, Alaska was able to send via train a twenty pound bag of the serum to Nenana, Alaska but there was nowhere to go from there - ships couldn't move because of packed ice, and no flights out because of blizzard conditions. The only solution found to travel the remaining 674 miles between Nenana and Nome would be a relay of dog sled teams. The planners estimated it would take as much as two weeks to complete.
Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen and Balto soon after the Nome sled run. Balto was the lead Siberian husky of Gunnar Kaasen's dog team and led the last relay dog sled team beginning on February 1, 1925 with the anti-toxin through -50 degrees Fahrenheit with biting winds that sometimes knocked over sled and dogs. Kassen would have quit through this blinding blizzard if it wasn't for Balto's instinctive push to move forward. Fifty-three miles of navigating through blinding whiteness and twenty hours later, Balto and his team reached Nome and the serum was delivered - 7 days total travel from Nenana to Nome - amazing! Although all of these huskies are heroes, it was Balto everyone will remember for his endurance, fidelity, and intelligence.
Balto Links and Other Dog Hero Lore
 The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford |  Balto: The Dog Who Saved Nome by Margaret Davidson |
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