AUGUSTA, Maine — With the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog races less than a week away, the Maine Legislature held a public hearing Monday for a bill that would designate the Seppala Siberian sled dog as the Maine state dog.
While the Seppala Siberian did not originate in Maine, one particularly famous member of the breed lived out the latter part of his life in the state. There is now a kennel in Maine that works to preserve the sled dog breed.
Maine does not currently have a state dog, although the Legislature previously considered making it the Labrador retriever. At the time, in 2015, lawmakers were told that only 18 percent of all licensed dogs in Maine were Labs, according to a report from Maine Public.
The movement to make the Seppala Siberian Maine’s state dog was inspired by the actions of a famous canine named Togo, whose actions saved the small Alaskan town of Nome a century ago in 1925, according to the National Park Service.
Togo and his team were led by a man whose name has now been attached to their breed, Leonhard Seppala.
An outbreak of diphtheria was identified in Nome, and it was believed that, without medicine, the illness could have a 100 percent mortality rate within a month. The town couldn’t be reached by plane or ship. Seppala and Togo led the team across the most dangerous leg of the journey, delivered the lifesaving serum, and ultimately saved the town.
The sled dogs’ journey became the plot of the 1995 Disney film “Balto,” named after the dog that finished the last leg of the journey.
Eventually, Togo retired and came to live out the rest of his life at Poland Spring Resort in Maine, where he lived until the age of 16.
“There are many great dogs and many legendary dogs in Maine, but no breed can say that it has its roots in Maine, that it actually was established as a specific and distinct breed right in Maine,” Fort Kent musher Jonathan Hayes said during the hearing on Monday.
A fiscal impact statement for the bill to make the Seppala Siberian Maine’s state dog, L.D. 80, indicates that any costs associated with the change are expected to be minor.
The bill was introduced by Rep. David Boyer, R-Poland. He said it is hard to dispute the cultural and symbolic value of the dog, and he encouraged more people to learn about Togo’s story of teamwork and resilience.
“This is a simple gesture that strengthens our connection to those who came before, and serves as a unifying force in times fraught with political division,” he said. “I urge you to consider the historical, cultural and symbolic importance of these exceptional dogs and join me in affirming a proud piece of Maine’s legacy and history.”
The hearing included testimony from Hayes, who is set to participate in the upcoming 250-mile Can-Am race and who recently reenacted Togo’s serum run to celebrate its 100th anniversary, with Maine-bred dogs that were descended from members of Seppala’s team.
“We retraced the entire 750 miles with a single team bred right there in northern Maine,” he said. “I will be running the Can-Am 250 with those same dogs just next week.”
Several members of the Poland Spring Preservation Society also spoke in favor of the bill.
Cyndi Robbins, vice resident of the preservation society board and owner of the Poland Spring resort, discussed how Seppala and his partner Elizabeth Ricker, whose family owned Poland Spring, established a Siberian kennel at Poland Spring.
“This marked the beginning of the spread of these great dogs in the United States,” Robbins said. “No other breed of dog could claim the distinction of official Maine state dog with as much history, honor and distinction as the Siberian sled dog.”
While Alaska has named the Alaskan Malamute and New Hampshire has named the Chinook as their state dogs, no other dog is better suited to the title in Maine, she said.
Establishing the state dog could draw more attention and visitors to northern Maine and boost the state’s tourism industry, particularly with the international Can-Am event coming up, said Nate Cloutier, director of government affairs at Hospitality Maine.
Maine has an opportunity to showcase the dog in its marketing campaigns, festivals and events, encouraging visitors to explore Maine’s northern regions. That could benefit hotels, restaurants and local businesses that rely on tourism year-round, he said.
“The Siberian sled dogs are known for their strength, loyalty and ability to thrive in harsh weather conditions, making them a fitting symbol of Maine’s rugged landscape,” he said. “I think this is a neat way to remind folks that there is a northern Maine beyond Bangor.”
