Dog leads owner to distressed neighbor

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A New York woman said her dog led her to the apartment door of an elderly man who had collapsed and was calling for help.

Linda Deutsch, 45, said she was attempting to take her 5-year-old Bichon Frise, named Lexi The Great, out for a walk at about 8 a.m. Wednesday when the pooch refused to get on the elevator, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

Deutsch said she initially thought Lexi was just being difficult until she realized the dog was trying to pull her toward Apartment 4-L. She followed the dog to investigate and soon heard faint cries for help coming from inside the apartment.

"She kept pulling away," Deutsch said. "I didn't hear anything at first, but then I heard the cry for help."

The building super opened the door and found Charles Postler, 85, a deacon at nearby St. Patrick's Church, lying on the floor and speaking incoherently.

Postler's son, Charles Postler Jr., said his father had apparently fallen after getting up at about 1:30 a.m. He said Postler had been able to grab a pillow and make his way toward the door, where Lexi heard his calls for help hours later.

The younger Postler said his father is expected to be released from the hospital Thursday.