It usually takes Fran McGee a good three hours to do her shopping -- not because the West Duluth woman uses a wheelchair, but because of her companion, Labrador-beagle mix Chloee Lee.
At least a dozen people stop to ask the story of the yellow service dog that has drastically enhanced McGee's quality of life.
Chloee Lee can remove McGee's socks -- noticing whether they are right-side-out and shaking them correct if not -- fetch a carton of milk from the refrigerator, and even alert her to a potentially dangerous increase or decrease in her blood sugar level.
McGee, who is forced to rely on a wheelchair as a result of congenital scoliosis, describes Chloee Lee -- who accompanies her everywhere she goes -- as a "miracle."
"A service animal absolutely puts your life on track again," she said. "It's kind of like being in jail with your body. You are free, but you aren't free in the world, you aren't free in your city or in your own house.
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"It just turns your world the right way up again."
Not only does McGee suffer from congenital scoliosis and diabetes, but she lacks one kneecap and has limited use of her right hand following an accident.
It's a combination of factors that makes even such simple tasks as reaching down to pick up a dropped letter or opening a door a challenge.
Until Chloee Lee arrived on the scene, that is.
Learning what McGee estimates to be close to 200 commands, Chloee Lee reaches items McGee cannot, passing them to her, or brings a diabetes testing kit if she senses McGee's blood sugar levels are abnormal.
The Labrador-beagle's accomplishments with McGee are all the more notable for the fact that Chloee Lee also is disabled.
The 6-year-old dog suffers from a canine form of Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not secrete two hormones in the correct quantities or ratio.
Bobbie Palsa, a volunteer with the national Addison Dogs organization, likens the disease to diabetes or hypothyroidism.
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"You are missing a hormone -- either insulin or thyroxin or, in this case, cortisol or aldosterone," she said. "It's scary when you first hear about it and most people, if they have heard about it at all, know that President Kennedy had it. ... But it's not a death sentence."
For Chloee Lee, it means a twice-daily dose of two medications to keep the condition under control, and McGee takes care to limit Chloee Lee's exposure to stressful situations, which can trigger an attack.
"It really doesn't have any bearing on her being a service dog, but unfortunately, it will probably shorten her service life," said Pam Longville, the director of training at the Twin Ports Dog Training Club, who worked one-on-one with McGee and her personal care attendant, Ann Panger, to train Chloee Lee from a young age.
On Friday, Panger demonstrated how Chloee Lee responds to her favorite command.
"Mail girl!" Panger snapped.
Chloee Lee ran over, sat alertly in front of Panger to receive the mail in her mouth, then trotted over to McGee. Though she first dropped the letters and flyers, the dog picked up each mail item in turn, passing it carefully to McGee, until McGee asked, "Any more?" one final time, and Chloee Lee simply stood, wagging her tail.
At the refrigerator, McGee asked Chloee Lee to pick out bottles of pop and dressing.
Chloee Lee carefully lifted each object by the cap in her teeth, and then passed it to McGee.
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But McGee's support from Chloee Lee has gone beyond picking up and fetching.
Noticing Chloee Lee's tendency to lean her head on the left side of McGee's chest, at times with great persistence, McGee booked herself in for a mammogram.
The results came back: McGee had two types of cancer and so she opted for a mastectomy.
"I think she saved my life, I really do," said McGee.
