WILLMAR -- Gail Eide had already been in and out of Rice Memorial Hospital once after abdominal surgery and was not feeling well at all.
In fact, Eide was so sick that she was disoriented and trying to call her daughter on a phone that didn't work. That's when Mikey, her 8-month-old poodle, stepped up to help her in the only way a little dog can. He barked and whined until her neighbors began wondering what was going on.
They came to investigate and found Eide in bad shape. They contacted her daughter and then Eide was transported to the hospital for three days of treatment, including a night in the intensive care unit. She's doing much better now after the Aug. 17 incident, and she's got her dog and the neighbors to thank.
Good neighbors is what Eide expects in her building on the southeast side of Willmar. She has lived in the 1800 Becker Avenue Southeast apartment building for three years and knows just about everyone.
"It's like a family," she said. "The way it should be."
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She had the abdominal surgery on Aug. 15 at Glenwood and left the hospital the next day with a drain tube and medication-administering device. She then went to Rice Memorial Hospital by ambulance, only to stay a few hours and then be brought home.
It was the next day and the surgical incision was infected. Eide was becoming disoriented and confused about what she was supposed to do with the drain. That's when Mikey stepped in.
Neighbor Paul Gerdes was walking by to go out for a walk that day. He heard the dog barking and whining and carrying on. Another neighbor, Sheila Torgerson, went to check on Eide, who was clearly distraught.
Torgerson says she's glad she was home that day. "If it wasn't for the dog barking ... " she said. "I'm just glad I was here."
Now folks are thanking Torgerson for saving Eide, but she can't take all of the credit. She's got to share it with Mikey, a 7-pound dog who is classified as a service animal.
The teacup poodle came into Eide's life in March. The dog, while not officially trained as a companion animal, is allowed to go into stores and businesses, she said.
Since she lives on a limited income, Eide didn't think she had enough money to buy the poodle, which was advertised in the paper. But she called and the local breeder allowed her to pay what she could at the time and then make installment payments. The dog instantly connected with her from the first meeting, she said.
"He wouldn't leave my lap and no other dog could come near," Eide said. "It was kind of meant to be. I probably wouldn't be here without him barking and going crazy."
