NW firefighter uses Narcan to save puppy exposed to fentanyl

A Lacey firefighter saved a puppy exposed to fentanyl by giving it naloxone at the Nisqually Reservation Tuesday morning.on

Lacey Fire District 3 shared photos of the puppy on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s not every day we use Narcan on a four-legged patient — but our teams are ready for just about anything,” the post says.

Nisqually police found the puppy in a vehicle while contacting a person at parking lot on the 12800 block of Yelm Highway Southeast, LFD3 Fire Chief Jennifer Schmidt told The Olympian on Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews responded at 8:17 a.m. to assist Nisqually police with a medical evaluation, Schmidt said. While there, police alerted the crew to a puppy that appeared unresponsive. While most of the crew assisted the person, Schmidt said Engine Lt. Bryce Craig sprang into action to help the puppy.

The post indicated fentanyl was present in the vehicle. Schmidt said Craig assessed the situation and decided to give the puppy a small dose of naloxone that Nisqually police carried.

“He administered it to the puppy and within a couple of minutes, the dog started to respond,” Schmidt said. “In the lieutenant’s terms, it began acting like a puppy right away.”

Schmidt said the puppy became excited, as a puppy does, and began breathing normally.