Leonhard "Sepp" Seppala was a Norwegian sled dog breeder, trainer and musher who with his dogs played a pivotal role in the 1925 serum run to Nome, and participated in the 1932 Winter Olympics.

What happened to Seppala?

Seppala had not abandoned his mining career with his tour of the U.S.A. After the tour was completed and his dogs safely settled in Poland Spring, he returned each spring to Alaska to continue his employment there, leaving the dogs in Liz Ricker's care. After 1932 he remained in Alaska. ... Both are buried in Nome, Alaska.

Did Seppala own Balto and Togo?

On an interesting side note, despite Gunnar Kaasen being the musher that guided Balto, Leonhard Seppala owned both Balto and Togo. ... Seppala felt that Balto was not good enough to put on his own team for the Serum Run. In fact, Gunnar Kaasen had to pair Balto with another lead dog, Fox, for the final push into Nome.