A Northern California police officer is being praised for heroically saving the life of a puppy that accidentally ingested fentanyl on the early morning of June 15.
Officer Steven DeNeef of the Yuba City Police Department rescued the puppy, named Wednesday, after its distressed owner entered department’s lobby, desperately seeking help for his pet.
According to a Facebook post from the department, Wednesday was in dire condition upon being brought to the station and was struggling to breathe.
The distraught owner informed the officers that someone had exposed the dog to fentanyl.
DeNeef, who was present at the time, immediately responded to the life-threatening situation. Utilizing his training and the tools available to him, he administered two doses of Narcan, a widely used opioid overdose antidote carried by law enforcement officers across most California agencies.
DeNeef’s intervention proved to be the turning point in Wednesday’s fight for survival. The Narcan successfully revived the puppy, giving him a second chance at life.
The Yuba City Police Department later expressed their gratitude and pride for DeNeef’s efforts to save the puppy.
“The owner, Wednesday, and our department is extremely thankful and proud of Officer DeNeef!” the YCPD wrote in the post, which now has over 1,500 likes.
This is not the first time DeNeef has been lauded for his heroism. Last year, he was honored with an award presented by Project Humanize, a nonprofit organization hosted by the Relentless Defender Foundation.
The organization aims to “humanize the badge” and acknowledge acts of service performed by law enforcement officers.
In October of last year, DeNeef responded to a call reporting a stabbing incident. As he assessed the victim’s condition, the individual lost consciousness. DeNeef immediately began administering life-saving CPR and eventually the victim regained consciousness.
Upon further examination, DeNeef discovered several stab wounds on the victim, one of which was life-threatening. He sealed the wounds and applied a tourniquet to the victim’s left arm.
Medical professionals later confirmed that DeNeef’s actions ultimately saved the victim’s life.
The Yuba City Police Department commended DeNeef for his dedication to duty, his ability to remain calm under pressure and his unwavering commitment to the community’s safety and well-being.
