 The Martins would then adopt Timmy, and Lassie would remain on the farm with the boy.Stars Jan Clayton and Tommy Rettig would be written out of the show by having their characters move to distant Capitol City.Other characters associated with the Miller years including "Porky" Brockway (Donald Keeler), his basset hound Pokey and his parents Matt and Birdie (Paul Maxey and Marjorie Bennett) would be dropped as well, simply disappearing without explanation to the audience.