CALVERT, MD-Turnabout is fair play. She saved the dog's life, he saved hers.

When two-year-old Toby, a golden retriever was a puppy, Debbie Parkhurst rescued him from a dumpster and the two have developed a strong bond.

Now Toby is being credited with saving Debbie's life by jumping up and down on her chest as she was choking on a piece of apple stuck in her throat.

The 45-year-old woman said she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece of the fruit got lodged in her windpipe. She tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself in an attempt to dislodge the obstruction but it didn't work. She said she had been beating on her chest and Toby had been watching her.

She said the 75-pound dog rose up on his hind legs, placed his front paws on her shoulders and pushed her to the ground. As she laid on her back, the dog jumped up and down on her chest and the piece of apple was dislodged from her throat. She says the dog then began licking her face to keep her from passing out.

Parkhurst says she has some bruising on her chest and stomach from Toby's paws but that she's lucky to be alive. Her doctor concurs, saying that the dog undoubtedly saved her life. 3-28-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette