Famous Dogs – Lassie

Whether it was a fire in the barn or a neighborhood kid who’d fallen through thin ice, you could count on Lassie, one of pop culture’s most famous dogs. Lassie’s character is based on Eric Knight’s short story, Lassie Come-Home, which was later expanded to a novel and published in 1940. In 1943, MGM produced a film by the same title, and Lassie was played by Pal, a male rough collie. A California native, Pal starred in six Lassie films during his career, and he retired in 1954 after shooting two pilots for the Lassie TV series. Pal’s descents continue to play Lassie, even long after their great-great-grandfather went to the big dog park in the sky. How’s that for a feel-good ending?