Item of the Week: Fentanyl-Addled Puppy Saved by Narcan

Firemen in Lacey, Washington were tasked this week with saving the life of a puppy, not from a burning building but from the dog’s proximity to fentanyl. 

Nisqually police, which serves the Nisqually Tribe reservation just south of Tacoma, found the puppy in a vehicle while questioning a person in a parking lot. Finding fentanyl, they called in EMTs with the local fire department to attend to the human, but saw the dog was also in need of medical attention – eyes closed and tongue out.

Engine Lieutenant Bryce Craig administered a small dose of naloxone, or Narcan. Within a couple of minutes, the dog revived and, according to Craig, “began acting like a puppy right away.” 

The firemen posted pics on social media of the revived puppy, looking very much like it was recovering from a long night out.

“It’s not every day we use Narcan on a four-legged patient — but our teams are ready for just about anything,” Lacey Fire District Three posted on Facebook.

The pup – name withheld – was reportedly doing well and remained in custody with the Nisqually police. 

Photo credit: Lacey Fire District Three via Facebook