Togo - Canine Hero

By now, you’ve been living under a rock if you haven’t heard about the legendary expedition of Balto.  Even if you did live under a rock, odds are Patrick mentioned it at some point.  But behind all of Balto’s mythology lies the story of a dog who’s heroism often goes unsung.  This is the tale of Togo, recognized by Time Magazine as, ‘The most heroic animal of all time’.

The Outbreak

In 1925, a lethal outbreak of Diphtheria left the small community of Nome, Alaska in grave danger.  Caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria, the deadly disease covers the back of the throat.  This makes breathing extremely difficult and puts you at risk for heart failure, paralysis, or worse.  As of 1921, the United States reported 206,000 cases of the disease, with 15,520 cases proving fatal.  In order to save the people of Nome, a serum would have to be retrieved immediately.

The Elements

Unfortunately, it happened to be the coldest recorded winter in Alaskan history.  The elements were so treacherous that it rendered airplane travel impossible.  It was cold enough to freeze the harbor itself, nulling the possibility of a serum being delivered by ship.  This meant teams of sled dogs were the only option.  Anchorage was the closest city with the necessary serum, but the only method of delivery was via train.  Their only chance was to intercept the train when it stopped in Nenana, a whopping 674 frozen miles away.

The Journey

Balto and his musher, Gunner Kassen deserve their praise for finishing the last leg of the journey in a blinding blizzard.  But the efforts of Togo and musher Leonard Seppala often go overlooked.  Being the most experienced musher of the crew, Seppala volunteered to take the toughest stretch of the journey.  Togo was 12 years old at the time and Seppala was 47.  Despite their age, they took on the full wrath of mother nature.

Togo led Seppala’s pack to cover 170 miles in three days in the face of the most difficult conditions imaginable.  While crossing the perilous Norton Sound, Seppala’s pack became stranded on a floe of ice.  Seppala quickly tied a lead to Togo up front and began tossing the dogs over several feet of water to get them across.  The weight of the floe and the sled caused the line to snap, yet Togo remarkably got the line out of the water and began pulling over his shoulders to get his fellow dogs to safety.

Togo and Balto were teammates with one common goal, bringing a serum back to Nome as quickly as possible.  While Balto and Kassen got most of the credit, the heroism of Togo and Seppala is awe-inspiring.  In the years following the run, Seppala and his pack made appearances all across the United States.  The crew’s last documented race was against a team of locals in New England, where Seppala’s crew prevailed victoriously.

Seppala and New England Musher, Elizabeth Recker, opened a kennel of Siberian Huskies in Poland Spring, Maine.  Togo lived out the rest of his days there in joy and tranquility before passing away at the age of 16.  Seppala passed away in 1967 at age 89.  In his legacy, the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award is administered each year to the Iditarod musher who takes the best care of their dogs.  As for Togo’s legacy, Disney + released a film in 2019, chronicling the bravery of Togo and Seppala’s adventure.  The film even stars Togo’s bloodline descendant, a Siberian Husky named ‘Diesel’ as the brave pack leader.

LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ABOUT TOGO!

Impact of Obesity in Dogs

For better or worse, dogs love to follow in their owner’s footsteps.  As of 2018, studies show over 40% of Americans were obese.  Coincidentally, 56% of the nation’s dogs were obese or overweight.  Dogs are considered overweight once their weight reaches 15% above average.  They matriculate into the obesity zone when their weight exceeds 30% above average. 

Osteoarthritis

Also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), osteoarthritis is what happens when joint cartilage deteriorates, causing inflammation to intensify.  It makes simple tasks like standing up, going upstairs, and jumping onto a bed or couch extremely more difficult.  Cartilage cushion naturally breaks down over time.  However, obesity adds unnecessary stress to the joints with every step your dog takes, expediting the process of osteoarthritis a great deal.  Frequent stress from physical activities like walking, running and playing take a toll on your dog’s joints.  The additional weight makes each movement more stressful and causes the cartilage to break down more easily.  Osteoarthritis is most common in larger breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and German Shepherds, but obesity makes any breed vulnerable to the disease.

Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is the result of insulin withdrawals in the pancreas, which impact’s the animal’s use of fats, proteins, and sugars.  Some dogs are genetically more susceptible, but obesity is one of the most common causes of the disease.  Obesity causes cells in your pet’s body to reject insulin, causing their overall blood sugar levels to go up.  Warning signs for diabetes include increased thirst and urination, loss of eyesight, and lethargy.  Reach out to your veterinarian right away if your pup has been experiencing these symptoms.

Decreased Life Expectancy

Obesity is known to have a direct negative impact on the longevity of a dog’s life.  A study of Labrador Retrievers concluded that even being slightly overweight can take up to two years off your dog’s life.  Excess fat tissue releases inflammatory hormones and can help contribute to other diseases. Dr. Ernie Ward, the founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, said on the matter, “I see the consequences, and I wish for those pets that I could roll back the tape to five years ago and say ‘let’s change a few minor things here and there and we could have avoided all of this.’  It’s avoidable, not inevitable.”

““It’s not only that these obese dogs face a shorter life expectancy, but it’s the quality of life they’re leading in the first place.” ”

— Dr. Ernie Ward

Financial Trouble

Besides the health risks, having an obese pet can prove to be a costly situation.  Dr. Ward estimates obese animals cost their owners hundreds of millions of dollars (collectively) on a yearly basis.  He also believes that costly vet expenses resulting from obesity would go away with smarter food choices and consistent exercise for our pets.

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Without a doubt, obesity has a severely negative impact on the quality of your pet’s life.  Take daily walks, ration food properly, and reach out to your vet if need be.  Be proactive and take the precautions to give your pet the longest, healthiest life possible. 

If you are worried about your dog’s weight the perfect solution is helping them to get more exercise! That is where we come in! Click below to find your pets’ new exercise buddy!

Cher Ami - The Pigeon That Saved 194 American Soldiers In WWI

Times of adversity brings out the true heroes in all of us.  The First World War is one of the greatest all-time exemplifications of that idea in action.  There are thousands of stories passed down about accounts of bravery and heroism.  But one of the most attention-grabbing stories revolves around a courageous carrier pigeon named Cher Ami.

Cher Ami on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

According to estimates, The US Army Signal Corps used roughly 600 carrier pigeons over the course of World War I.  The sheer size of radio, along with the accompanying electrical wires, made them an unstable means of wartime communication.  Carrier pigeons provided a unique alternative to radio communication.  On average, the pigeons could fly up to 70 miles per hour.

The real legend of Cher Ami came to fruition on October 4th, 1918.  American troops, led by Major Charles Whittlesey, pushed too deep into the Argonne Forrest and were cornered by the German forces.  They became known as the “Lost Battalion”.  Handicapped by scarce supplies and no possibility of backup, a crew of about 550 men fought tooth and nail to hold off the Germans for several days.  To somehow make matters worse, American artillery dropped an airstrike on their position, unaware that it was American troops.  Their position left the Lost Battalion far out of the range of radio receptors, leaving carrier pigeon messenger as their only chance to make it out alive.  

Flying through the air wasn’t exactly safer than the ground.  German soldiers in charge of machine guns were specifically trained to locate the birds mid-flight and take them out.  This made trusting a carrier pigeon with a message extremely dangerous because the strategic message could easily be recovered by the enemy if the bird were to be shot down.  Being the machine guns shot 500 rounds per minute, plenty of poor messenger birds met this fate.  In the 12th hour, Major Whittlesey sent out one last pigeon, Cher Ami.  The message read, “We are along the road parallel to 276.4.  Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us.  For heaven’s sake, stop it.”

Cher Ami soared into the savage skies determined to deliver the message.  The hearts of the Battalion sunk when they saw a bullet hit Cher Ami, knocking him out of the air.  In an act that defies all logic, Cher Ami rose back to the skies and continued his valiant quest.  Physically wounded but mentally impenetrable, Cher Ami dodged spree after spree of machine-gun fire as she escaped.  When she finally arrived at her destination, she was blind in one eye and had catastrophic injuries to his right leg.  Thankfully, army medics were able to save her life.  Taking notice of the content of Cher Ami’s message, Americans were able to reposition their intended airstrikes to eliminate any further chance of friendly fire.  The following day, American artillery reigned down on the German forces, shifting the tides in favor of the Last Battalion.  194 men made it out in one piece thanks to Cher Ami’s valiance.

Once she was healed up, Cher Ami returned home to the United States with her trainer, Captain John Carney.  Cher Ami passed away in 1919, but her body was preserved and given to the Smithsonian Museum of American History, where others can learn of her heroic tale for generations to come.

Listen to our podcast on Cher Ami on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. And don’t forget to subscribe!

Working from Home With Your Dog

Getting along with coworkers isn’t always easy.  Every office has the one who eats other people’s lunches, the one who swears they would have been a 5x all pro if not for a tragic knee injury, the one still pursuing their career as a Soundcloud rapper, etc.  But in the days of working from home, nobody could prepare you for the one who chews up your underwear, randomly pees out of excitement, and barks at your keyboard when you type.  Here are some tips on how to keep your furry friends occupied so you can actually get some work done.  

Bully Sticks

Bully Sticks

A long-lasting bone is just what your pet needs to stay occupied for hours.  The bully stick is a single ingredient dog chew made of high protein beef.  Besides giving them something to do, bully sticks promote a healthy coat of fur, clean teeth, healthy gums, and give your dog some exercise.  They’re meant to withstand aggressive chewers as well.  They’re also safe to swallow, digestible, and come in sizes up to a foot long.  They also have an odorless option for your aromatic convenience.

The Tug Toy

If your dog insists on a mid-afternoon play session but you have a zoom call to attend to, your best bet is the tug-toy.  Just because your gym is closed doesn’t mean your canine companion can’t build get a sweat going. The toy is simply a rope with a suction cup on one end and a ball on the other.  You place the suction cup down and let your dog pull as much as they want.  This is a great way to keep your dog entertained while getting them some exercise simultaneously.  Not to mention your shoulder gets to remain rightfully in its socket.  They’re especially useful for teething dogs and young pups with a lot of energy.  The toy is suitable for all dogs under 145 lbs!  

Take a break!

Work has its stressful moments regardless of where you are.  Taking small breaks over the course of the day and spending a little time with your dog is a great way to keep your spirits up and stay positive.  Have your dog make an appearance in your zoom meeting to give a quick pick me up to your team!  Walking your dog is another excellent way to take a quick break, refresh and get some exercise while you’re at it.  If need be, you could even hold a conference call from your phone while you’re out walking around.  And the best part of it all is once you get back, they’ll be worn out and fixing for a nap.

Working from home is definitely a big adjustment for people used to their specific work environments.  With all that’s on your plate, you don’t need your dog to also be physically eating what’s off your plate the second you look away.  Taking the precautions to make sure your dog has something to keep themselves busy is the best way to ease into the change of working from home.