Courage of Lassie

Despite the film's title, the collie that stars here is not Lassie... but the equally spirited "Bill." The adventuresome pooch begins what promises to be a hard life when he's abandoned in the forest. There, he runs into a variety of wildlife, including a bear and a skunk. Then he finds a home with a warm-hearted teenager, Kathie Merrick, who begins to train him as a sheep dog. After he's hurt, however, he gets yet another new home... and then is shipped off to fight in the Second World War! Bill returns home from battle a junkyard dog of sorts. Terrible surroundings, and a lack of care, make matters worse for the usually affable canine. Only under Kathie's loving guidance will he again be the sweet, obedient collie of yore. (official distributor synopsis)