lever Golden Retriever, Toby, Performs Performs Heimlich Maneuver On Choking Owner

A woman named Debbie Parkhurst was snacking on sliced apples when a bite got stuck in her throat. She tried a variety of urgent ways to get it out, such as beating herself on the chest.

Debbie reports that the odd activity must have clued in her unusually clever golden retriever, Toby, because, as she tells it, "The next think I know, Toby’s up on his hind feet, and he’s got his front paws on my shoulders. He pushed me to the ground and, once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest."

The slice of apple popped out and, knowing he had saved her life, Toby began to lick her face.

"I literally have paw-shaped bruises on my chest," Debbie said. "I’m still a little hoarse, but otherwise I’m OK."

She was taken to the hospital, just in case, and, she reports, "The doctor said I probably wouldn’t be here without Toby."

So here’s to Toby – our clever monkey of the month, even if he accomplished his feat just because he likes to jump on his owner.