Dog Performs Heim-lick

From the "Man (and Woman's) Best Friend department:

Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told the Cecil Whig she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved.

"The next thing I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders," she recalled. "He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest."That's when the apple dislodged and Toby started licking her face to keep her from passing out, she said."

I literally have pawprint-shaped bruises on my chest. I'm still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I'm OK," Parkhurst said.

"The doctor said I probably wouldn't be here without Toby," said Parkhurst, a jewelry artist. "I keep looking at him and saying 'You're amazing.'"

Read the story here. Dogs . . . you gotta' love 'em. It's things like this that makes one completely overlook their other less desirable acts, such as their taste for good books and socks. In my house, any book forgetfully left below a height of five feet is toast, and my budget for socks is breaking me.