Lassie's Lessons

THOSE women on THAT site are at it again, trying to rewrite and edit history to suit their own needy egos. The proof is in the written word – the first time around – rather than the revised word ten years later. For the time and space taken up with rewriting history, all they’ve shown is that their goal is to hide the truth. Fiction and lies only succeed in one way, and that is to result in consequences.

An obvious retaliatory response to my first Lassie Lesson, this new rehashing of old events brings out two points: 1) a desperation to post any kind of Lassie news, and 2) an outrageous attempt to discredit this author for any contribution I have made on behalf of Lassie.

On my part then, a second HONEST trip down memory lane seems to be necessary. In 1997, a Canadian company named Cinar chose not to renew Bob Weatherwax’s contract with Lassie and opted to bring in collies not of the Weatherwax line to portray Lassie in the Lassie show that was airing at that time. FOUR fans got together through the power of the Internet and came up with a “Save Lassie” campaign that eventually restored Bob Weatherwax and the Lassie line to the series. The four fans were myself, Loren Gates, and THOSE two women at THAT site.

As a team, we worked for months doing anything and everything that we could do to bring Bob and Lassie’s plight to the attention of the news media and the millions of Lassie fans around the world. All our hard work paid off, and a new contract was drawn up for Bob Weatherwax and Lassie.

All four of us got press coverage and were featured in various newspapers throughout the country. I was featured in the Madison (IN) Courier and in a lengthy article with several color photos in the Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal. Conveniently, THOSE women at THAT site have left out this information in their current posting of the newspaper articles. They have also given credit to only three people: themselves and Loren Gates.

Sorry, but history and the written record don’t work that way. What really happened will always be there. What was written by and about each member of the team is still written.

Speaking of what was written in the campaign – I am including some emails that serve to point out the fact that I was an official part of the campaign. This is the TRUTH, that thing that continues to elude THOSE women on THAT site. Then again, what they are indeed communicating is that they don’t recognize the standard of truth nor its importance. And they think they represent Lassie? The TRUTH dictates my answer in the negative.

Emails From the 1997 Save Lassie Campaign

“Thanks to Karen, I just sent off the fax to Larry Wilcox…”

From Loren Gates to Joan, Cathy, and Karen – September 23, 1997

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“Joan, can we place Karen’s Humane Society on the Support page you think? Everybody is hanging in there. If even one of us gets a small win, that’s a step closer to where we want to get! Rah Rah Rah Team!!!! hahaha. Cathy”

From Cathy Schmidt to Karen, Joan, and Loren – September 27, 1997

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“Karen-

Thanks for the info on your SAVE LASSIE campaign. I haven’t been in touch with the people at Golden Books for several months, but I’ll try to contact them and see what’s up over there.

When we were on the set of the TV show, everything seemed to be running smoothly – Bob, the dog, and the two ladies who run CINAR. But who knows…it’s probably all about money or scheduling or something like that.

I’ll let you know if I find out anything.

Ross Becker

Publisher

Good Dog!”

Letter to Karen regarding the Save Lassie Campaign – September 28, 1997

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“Whoa!!! The mom in the 1994 movie!!!!! Right? Geez Joan, you’ve GOT to tell Carol this one!! Too too cool!! WAY TO GO TEAM!! Karen great job!!”

From Cathy Schmidt to Karen, Loren, and Joan, after learning that Karen made contact with actress Helen Slater, who played the mother in the 1994 Lassie movie

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"In the Courier Notebook Section

…A Courierarea woman is part of an ongoing fight to “save Lassie,” the television and movie star collie that has stolen hearts across America since the 1950’s. According to information from Karen Pfeiffer, “After 55 years and eight generations of Lassies from the same line, the chain is about to be broken by a Canadian company that produces the new Lassie series.” Pfeiffer said the Cinar company does not recognize that Lassie is a star in her own right. The eight generations of Lassie were trained by Rudd and Bob Weatherwax, who would like to continue training future Lassies. For more information on the Lassie controversy, call up http://members.aol.com/LassieNet/petition.htm to reach the “Save Lassie” website.

But “Holy Baloney!!” What power those few sentences yielded!!!! WAY TO GO KAREN!!! Now what the heck do I need to do to get Tampa Bay in sync????”

Email from Cathy Schmidt to Karen, Loren, Joan, and others – October 4, 1997

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“When Lassie fans got scent of this, they thought it stunk. Hence, four of them – Joan Neidhardt of Abingdon, Md; Loren Gates, Independence, Mo; Karen Pfeiffer, Hanover, In; and Cathy Schmidt, St. Petersburg, Fla., - organized the Help Save Lassie Campaign last fall, a sort of electronic dogfight.”

Excerpt of an article by Ranny Green, Seattle Times Columnist – January 25, 1998