Today’s title is an homage to the 1943 movie, “Lassie Come Home”, starring Roddy McDowall and, of course, Lassie. In this classic tearjerker, Lassie’s family was SO destitute that they couldn’t even afford bargain brand kibble. (I’ve never let LizzyBet watch this movie to spare her a lifetime of doggy nightmares.)

Anyhooo, as the story begins, they’re forced to sell Lassie (back then used dogs were worth as much as the family jewels) who cleverly escapes from her new owner. The faithful collie, who apparently possesses a built in GPS before they were even invented, hikes on sore paws from Scotland to her home in Yorkshire.

Since Ulee’s Refuge is a maze of parking lots, paths and sidewalks winding between the buildings and, inspired by Lassie’s example, I started training LizzyBet to find her way home.

I’d select different routes and tell her to “Go home.” Next I’d let the leash go slack and let her choose our way.

After a week, she had no difficulty finding our apartment. Her new skill may have had something to do with her reward of a dog cookie from a local canine bakery, one flavored with bacon and peanut butter.

I guess it’s not surprising that LizzyBet could find her way. If you turn me loose in the wilderness and promise me bacon and peanut butter, I have no doubts I’d also make it home.