The dog that often gets credit for eventually saving the town is Balto, but he just happened to run the last, 55-mile leg in the race. The sled dog who did the lion’s share of the work was Togo. … ...

A 2019 Disney movie titled “Togo” cemented which dog would be remembered most. Interest in the breed soared after “Togo” hit theaters, which Hayes said had its good points as well as bad ones.

That may change if state Rep. David Boyer of Poland has his way. Boyer said he will ask the Legislature next year to designate the Seppala Siberian sled dog as Maine’s official state dog.

The dog that often gets credit for eventually saving the town is Balto, but he just happened to run the last, 55-mile leg in the race. The sled dog who did the lion’s share of the work was Togo. … ...