Cathy Schmidt

Cathy Schmidt is an American dog enthusiast. She was the co-founder of the Colliewood website and Lassie fan club. Her work revolved around her pet Rough Collie named Gina. She was a supporter and donor of the Collie Health Foundation since 2016.

Pet

In 1996, Cathy adopted a puppy from Lassie VIII (notable for starring in the TV series The New Lassie). Cathy named the puppy Gina and regarded her as her little Silver Star. Two years later, they appeared for the Seminole Community Library's Wonderful Wednesdays feature. In 1999, they made several public appearances to inspire children, and Cathy directed a show called "Dreams DO Come True" They made some TV series appearances. Gina was also awarded the Therapy Dogs International ACTIVE title.

Bibliography

• Gina Bina Ballerina (2005) - Illustrated by Vanessa Knight.

Cathy's book on Gina Bina Ballerina is directly inspired by her Rough Collie dog Gina and by her own life story, and by the stage show she directed. The powerful message of the book was to encourage one never to give up their dreams. Merchandise in the form of Gina Bina soft toy and tote bag was available around the time of the book's release. The book was presented in the Storyopolis bookstore in Los Angeles on February 11, 2026.