“For Better or For Worse” by Lynne Johnston was a syndicated cartoon strip that ran from 1979 to 2008. It chronicled the lives of the Pattersons, a Canadian family with kids, the family dog, and very normal parents. Anyone who followed the strip was put into a funk the day the family dog, an Old English Sheepdog named, “Farley,” died saving the life of “April,” the family’s youngest child. The loss of the sheepdog who’d grown up alongside the strip’s human cast sparked an uproar, but in the interview below, Johnston explains why she scripted Farley’s death. Personally, we would have been okay if Farley had lived to an improbable forty or fifty years of age. It’s bad enough that dogs don’t live long enough in real life. In TV, movies, and cartoons strips, you’re never supposed to kill the dog.
That was when I quit reading FBOW. I don’t need comic strips depressing me!
Isn’t that the truth, Sharyn. You’re not supposed to cry after reading a comic strip…
I remember the day Farley died… I had jumped in with both feet when the Pattersons arrived in my local paper and although well past cartoon age I looked forward to their adventures because they were growing with us unlike most characters who were stuck in the same spot. The Pattersons aged like us and experienced what we did – except for Farley and we, as readers, were ok with that quirk. And then the new puppy arrived and whether we wanted to admit it or not die hard fans realized the pup couldn’t grow up without Farley aging also. We hoped we were wrong we hoped for the impossible just like we do for our own best friends. I, for one, was still angry, still cried and at the same time was greatful to Lynn for giving Farley’s end purpose and not allowing him to just fade away in unspectacular fashion. There were some that said but it was just a cartoon, make believe and Farley didn’t exist he was just lines on paper….those people never owned a dog, they never cri d into a dogs neck for comfort, they never experienced the pure unadulterated love only a dog can give Nd I’m sorry for them. So yes I cried like a baby when Farley died, I cursed Lynn a bit and I might be doing a little of both right now. Sleep well sweet Fatley knowing you made the lives of those who knew you brighter just by being……
Your comment just gave us goosebumps, Betty. You couldn’t have given Farley – and Lynn – a finer tribute, nor could any of us have expressed our sentiments on his passing better than you just did. Well done.
For Better or For Worse was never just a daily gag bit. Lynn hit on several subjects, some controversial. That’s what made her strip different…and popular. Farley couldn’t live forever in this strip. He already lived a couple years longer than most sheepdogs. Be realistic.
Lynn did tap into a variety of watercooler topics, one reason her strip so resonated with readers. Still, we weren’t ready for Farley to go. Or any dog, for that matter.
I remember the first time I read it – like who cries over the comics – but what a valuable lesson to learn – we are only here a short time – and it reminds us that each moment is special – helps us to appreciate the people in our lives – Maybe take a minute and hug someone, tell them you love them – Thank you for reminding us. A good teaching moment for children. When I taught in a pre-school – when our classroom pets died – we did not talk about death – we told the children the animals went to live with Teri’s mother (teacher).
I was furious the first time it ran and had hopes this time the parents would take their rightful blame for being horrible parents and give praise to Farley and apologize for his death due to their negligence. Lynn Johnson had also said they were not all going to just be the reruns they became but instead that they would add to the development of the characters. I think Lynn Johnson has been deceitful and greedy.
Never kill the dog.