As a young girl I was in love with Lassie. I waited with anticipation for each show. I wouldn't let anyone change the channel until the end when they whistled the theme song and Lassie raised her (his) paw.
Every few years they would have contests to win a Lassie puppy and I would submit an entry. Just like the Publisher's Clearing House contest, I never won.
In 1994 they made another Lassie movie and during the promotion, they were taking Lassie around the country for a book signing party. Heather was 12 years old and away at camp, so I grabbed my niece and away we went. As you waited in line, the trainer gave strict instructions that you couldn't pet Lassie. Everyone walked by, had their pictures taken, then moved on. What did I do. I petted his head and I was quickly reprimanded. Maybe I didn't set the best example for my niece, but oh well - this was the real Lassie.
Well, in December 2005, on my birthday, I woke up and realized that I was ready to get a dog (my previous dog had passed away 7 months earlier). So I grabbed the Washington Post and lo and behold, there was a litter of collies in Maryland. I jumped into my car, drove to the breeder, walked into the backyard and there "he" was. It was the Lassie that I dreamed about my entire life.
I loved to take him out and hear people call out "There's Lassie." I beamed and said that HE was Lassie. Then Lassie would lift his leg and they would make some comment like "you gave a boy dog a girl's name." Yes I did. I did it because I could. I did it because I wanted to. I did it because it made me so happy. However, he never seemed to master lifting his paw when I hummed the theme song. (see the clip below for closing credits from the Lassie TV show).
I finally had my Lassie. He was gentle, majestic, and loyal. He loved playing with his stuffed animals, barking at the fox, boat rides on the lake, sleeping on the couch while company visited, visits with his dog and human friends, and trips to the beach.
Let's reflect on the puppy teething years - Lassie may have been house trained immediately, but those teething years were expensive - or let's just say he had expensive and unique taste. By the time he was 15 months, he had chewed/destroyed:
- hose nozzles,
- all the knobs on the outdoor gas grill and the electric starter push button,
- an expensive pair of shoes delivered from Nordstrom and still in the shoe box and then wrapped in the shipping box (one shoe was yummy - the other not so much)
- two lamp shades
- the backs off of frames that sat on window ledges - the bonus was they could now hang on the wall
However, he could hear the fox across the lake and then he would give that big dog bark. When friends came over, he would high pitch bark until he received dog treats. Yes, once again - he trained us.
Last December, Lassie developed a lump on his front leg. He was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer. Lassie's cancer diagnosis came within a day of Heather's Lyme diagnosis. My two brave patients.
Lassie was 9 at the time of diagnosis and we decided that the treatment options were too invasive, would destroy his quality of life and wouldn't even guarantee a cure. We decided to let Lassie enjoy life. We were told that he would last 3-6 months. Well, My Lassie didn't listen and lived for almost year. I know - he's such a good boy.
After his diagnosis, Lassie refined his dietary needs and realized that nasty tasting pills were best disguised in McDonald's cheeseburgers and left over filet mignon from the restaurant. It is was a privilege to be Lassie's personal chef. He never complained, and he thought homemade gravy should be served on everything. He was a true southern guy.
It would be hard to guess what Lassie's favorite food was. Ice cream, leftover milk in a cereal bowl, french toast and syrup, fried eggs and grits, Boar's Head thin sliced london broil lunch meat, or chicken skin and gravy. Don't get me started on his love of dog treats shaped like double-stuffed oreo cookies. Lassie loved his treats.
My heart is broken, but I am so thankful to have had the real Lassie in my life. Thank you Lassie. Thank you for your constant love, devotion, wet kisses, muddy paws, high-pitched herding bark, and faithful companionship.
I will miss stepping over you when I get out of bed, and I don't know what I am going to do without my faithful companion that followed me around the house 24/7, especially when I couldn't sleep. Good thing Lassie didn't have a day job saving people that fell into wells - at least he could rest during the day after my restless nights.
Thank you Lassie for your unconditional love. Thank you for just being you. You exceeded and fulfilled my "Lassie" expectations. In my mind there will never be another Lassie.
I love you Lassie - forever and always- to the moon and back - I love you.
WOOF
Please enjoy this 30 second clip of Lassie in 1958 - a wonderful year I might add.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp6v0jHSENY
Here are some more pictures of Lassie
