60s TV show about a boy being reunited with his dog after his family dies in a car wreck

December 29, 2008 12:17 PM

My mom has a memory of a TV show or movie she saw in the early 60s and she cannot figure out where it came from. It involves a boy going on a picnic and then there being a car accident where everyone but the boy and the dog died; he responds to a picture of a dog while in therapy and then he gets reunited with the dog. Her full description after the jump.

Here's the full description she gave me: A boy and his family go on a picnic, including the son's dog, a collie. On the way home they get in a car accident and everyone is killed except for the boy and the dog. When the rescue people come they don't know about the dog so he or she is left behind. The dog searches for the boy. Meanwhile the boy is in therapy at the hospital and he doesn't seem to respond to any stimulus until he is shown a picture of a collie (or dog, she doesn't remember). So the hospital people know he has a relationship with the dog. The end they get reunited; she doesn't remember the middle.

She thought it was from an episode of Lassie but she read the descriptions of all the old Lassie episodes and it didn't seem to be there. She said it was possible the dog was not a collie (it could have been a German Shepherd).

posted by NoraReed to media & arts (3 comments total)

After a bit of googling I found the movie My Dog, Buddy at IMDB. Here's the synopsis: A young boy who is closely attached to his German shepherd is involved in an auto accident during a family outing that kills his parents. His dog survives the accident and pulls his young master from the flaming wreckage, saving his life. The ambulance takes the boy but leaves the dog behind. The dog valiantly tries to follow the ambulance but is unsuccessful. For the remainder of the movie, the dog lives with various families, always continuing his search for his friend. Meanwhile, the boy suffers from hysterical muteness and doctors believe there is another reason aside from the loss of his parents.
posted by CoralAmber at 1:48 PM on December 29, 2008

Oh and The TV show Littlest Hobo was closely based on this movie starring the same German Shepherd, London. (IMDB user comment by Rob-362).
posted by CoralAmber at 1:50 PM on December 29, 2008

She said that's it! Thanks, CoralAmber!
posted by NoraReed at 2:04 PM on December 29, 2008