Manitoulin Island dog helps rescue senior who fell outdoors and couldn’t get up

In freezing temps, ex-cop Mickey McKinney slipped, forgot his help button, and yelled for aid. Next door, rescue dog Rosa heard him and alerted her owner

If not for the sharp hearing of a neighbour’s dog, things could have worked out much worse for 89-year-old Mickey McKinney, who fell earlier this month while outside his home on Manitoulin Island, Ont.

McKinney said he went outside around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 to move his snowblower when he slipped and fell.

He tried to get up but couldn’t and quickly grew tired as he struggled to get to his feet.

“Eventually, I started getting worried,” McKinney said.

He had an emergency help line connector in his pocket, but had forgotten it was there.

“As a last resort, I start yelling for help,” he said.

His cries caught the attention of Rosa, the dog who lives next door to McKinney. She heard him yelling and alerted her owner.

Rosa’s owner, Linda Gilchrist, said the pup was determined to get her attention.

“She went to the door and she barked, which was unusual,” Gilchrist said.

“I mean, there was nobody there. And so I got my boots on and her leash, and we went outdoors. As soon as we got outside, I heard a call for help.”

Gilchrist and another neighbour couldn’t get McKinney back on his feet and they needed to call the ambulance for help.

A police officer for more than 30 years, McKinney said this is the first time he’s been the victim, adding he’s grateful for Rosa’s help.

Brought her some cookies

“I brought her some cookies the next day,” he said.

“She’s a lifesaver. I think so, anyway.”

Gilchrist said she rescued seven-year-old Rosa from Mexico in 2025. Since then, she has really come to love the neighbours.

“She can see people come out and she’ll know who they are,” Gilchrist said, adding that Rosa wags her tail whenever she hears a neighbour come close by.

“I’m just totally amazed and very proud of her and shocked that she did all that and saved Mickey.”

McKinney ended up with stitches on one knee, but said all things considered, the outcome could have been much worse.