Debbie Parkhurst, of Calvert, Maryland, was eating an apple when a piece became lodged in her throat and she began to choke. She said she pounded on her own chest, but couldn’t get the piece to move. Then her dog — a Golden Retriever named Toby — joined in. He jumped on her chest until the apple piece dislodged, and then he licked her face so she wouldn’t pass out. Parkhurst said 2-year-old Toby got serious after her own efforts failed. "The next thing I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders,” she said. While Parkhurst did suffer from chest and stomach wounds from Toby’s jumping, the doctor said she probably wouldn’t be here had it not been for Toby’s efforts.
