Barking dog comes to rescue of fallen neighbor

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Thank goodness for dogs.

"They're good company anyway," says Mary Ellen Monzon of McCook, Nebraska. But her and her husband Vic's little dog was more than good company about a month ago, when Toby's non-stop barking alerted Vic to trouble at the neighbors' house.

Mary Ellen said that Toby, a 6-7-year-old Maltese/shih tzu cross, usually stays pretty close to home (at 1111 E. Fifth), but on that day he would not come home and he would not stop barking. Mary Ellen said she and Vic thought that Toby had chased a cat toward Griff and Fern Reiners' home two houses north (at 1203 E. Fifth).

Mary Ellen said Vic decided he was going to have to go get Toby, and that was when Vic discovered that Griff had fallen in his carport.

"I had just fallen and was trying to get up," Griff said. "Vic's little dog kept barking at me. He wasn't bothering me, he just wouldn't stop barking."

"I fell in the carport, right next to my pickup. It's tight quarters. I probably could have gotten up by myself ... I was right by the fender," Griff said. "But it was sure easier with help. It was nice to have help."

It wasn't too cold that day and he wasn't hurt, Griff said. He chuckled, "I was born in 1924. I'm getting pretty old. I just fell down."

Mary Ellen said that as soon as Vic helped Griff inside his house, Toby "just came home."

"It's nice to have good neighbors, and Vic is one of them," Griff said. "I probably could have gotten up myself, but I sure did appreciate the help." And Griff appreciates the Monzons' dog. "Thank goodness for Vic's dog ... he's a nice little dog," Griff said.