6. Balto, the Siberian Husky

Many people may be familiar with the 1995 children’s movie “Balto,” but what not many people know is that the cartoon about one of the most famous dogs in history is actually factual.

In the middle of a frigid 1920s winter, the charming town of Nome, Alaska, had a fatal case of diphtheria. With no other means of transportation available than dog sleds, Anchorage, Alaska, seemed very far away—500 miles away. The nearest place had the medical serum that Nome’s community needed to resolve the health crisis.

Many locals volunteered to help, along with their team of loyal, athletic dogs. Bolto was one of the dogs, a Siberian Husky, that became the face of the monumental success as the whole effort brought the serum to Nome.

Today, a bronze statue of Bolto in Central Park pays homage to the steadfast courage and endurance he, his human counterparts, and other dogs showed.