A Friendship Beyond Words

A Friendship Beyond Words: Remembering Lassie, My Childhood Soulmate

Dogs have often been called man’s best friend, and I’ve been blessed to have a dog as my soulmate for most of my life. Today, I want to share a story close to my heart—about a dog named Lassie, a Collie who was more than a pet to me when I was a young boy, from around 8 years old through high school.

Our farm stretched a mile long, bordered on the north by the winding Nishna River, a place where Lassie and I spent countless hours together. Being adopted and raised as an only child, I cherished my solitude, but there were many times I longed for a sibling to share my thoughts with. Lassie stepped into that role.

In those moments when my feelings were hurt, when discipline stung, or when overwhelming sadness settled in, Lassie was my steady companion. At the time, we did not realize the periods of deep sadness were, in fact, the result of an uncurable disease. It was later in life, after twelve years serving in Congress, I was diagnosed with severe depression—something I continue to battle. But it’s those childhood walks and talks with Lassie that I remember most vividly.

We’d walk the mile north along the farm, often stopping at a quiet place by the riverbank. When sadness overwhelmed me, I’d press my face into his soft fur and cry. And he would simply sit patiently, letting me pour out my heart. When I started to calm down, he’d gently lick away my tears—a small gesture, but one that meant my world.

Through the years, Lassie and I shared everything—especially as I navigated the confusing terrain of adolescence and first loves. I confided in him about heartbreaks and joys alike, each story rewarded with faithful licks on the face. He was more than a dog; he was a trusted confidant who seemed to understand me even when I struggled to understand myself.

Every night, we brought the cows in together. Lassie would settle down among the cats in the barn, patiently for his drink of fresh milk. Those were simple, peaceful moments that I’ll never forget.

For you folks who have never had the wonderful experience of living on a farm, the cats and Lassie did not get their drinks of milk from a bowl. You may have seen pictures of this phenomenon. The cats and Lassie would get in a line behind the cow being milked. Then I would turn the teat of the cow I was milking in their direction and give each a big squeeze of milk directly into their mouths. They knew the order the squirts of milk would come and were perfect ladies and gentlemen to sit and wait their turn.

And they never lost a drop!

Then one evening, everything changed.

Lassie wasn’t waiting for me like he always was. I called and whistled, but he was nowhere to be found. I went after the cows alone, unsettled but hopeful. The next day, my father kept watch for him while I was at school, worry etched on his face.

When milking time came again, I walked to the far end of the pasture and looked across into the neighbor’s field. There, in the tall grass, lay Lassie—still, silent, lifeless. A bullet hole marked the side of his head. Someone had fired a rifle from the neighbor’s back porch, just fifty yards away, and took my best friend’s life for no reason.

Lassie had done nothing wrong. He wasn’t a stray or a threat—he was gentle, loyal, and loving. He’d simply slipped under the bottom barbed wire of the fence to take a shortcut home. The fence itself was a typical farm barrier, with sharp wire to keep cattle in, and Lassie had crossed it harmlessly.

That moment shattered my world. I learned a harsh truth: some people can be cruel and thoughtless, breaking hearts just for their own dark pleasure. It was a hard lesson for a young farm boy to learn, but a lesson I carry with me still.

Even now, many years later, tears come as I write this. Lassie was more than a dog—he was a friend, protector, and a pillar of comfort during my hardest days. Losing him left a void, but his memory reminds me of the pure, unconditional love one soul can give to another.

To anyone reading this who has shared a similar bond with a pet, you know it’s a love that reshapes your life. Thank you, Lassie, for being my steadfast friend. I carry you with me always.