The Patsy Award is an annual award for animal performers in films (and tv too nowadays). It stands for Picture Animal Top Star of the Year. It was started by the Hollywood office of the American Humane Association in 1939 after a horse was killed in an on-set accident during the making of the film Jesse James, starring Tyrone Power, and among the winners have been Francis the Talking Mule and, of course, Lassie.