YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown police officer Megan Fiedler last week responded to Neshoba Road in the Old Furnace area of Youngstown’s West Side for a stray dog and earned accolades for the gentle way she brought the dog to safety.

Fiedler spoke to the caller who reported the stray dog, and he said it was clear the dog did not live in the neighborhood because no one recognized it, she said. The Mahoning County Dog Warden’s Office was going to arrive in about 30 minutes, and Fiedler took the time to make friends with the dog.

“I tried to keep the dog in one area. She was very skittish,” Fiedler said. “It really wouldn’t let anybody close.”

Fiedler said she was able to earn the dog’s trust and eventually the dog laid down beside her so the dog could be taken to the dog pound to determine what to do with her.

When a deputy dog warden arrived on Neshoba, he took a photo of Fiedler and the dog that went up on the dog warden’s website. “Officer Megan Fiedler with YPD got her to safety,” the post on the dog warden’s Facebook page stated.

The Friends of Fido Animal Rescue posted on its website that it had taken the dog, now named Maeve, last week to an emergency veterinarian, where they did blood work, X-rays and gave her IVs and oxygen. Maeve had multiple fractures to her pelvis, a partially collapsed lung and an infection, the website stated. Medical bills for the dog had reached about $2,000, the post noted in asking for donations.

Meanwhile the www.thedodo.com website published an article Friday stating that Maeve was a “skinny, frightened black dog” that had been spotted roaming the streets of Youngstown and was believed to have been abandoned.

“Deputy Keith Stokes recognized her from many days of trying to catch her during the previous week,” the article stated. “He had tried repeatedly, but she would never let him get close to her.”

The article said Fiedler “decided to earn the pup’s trust. She sat down on the ground to convince her she was finally safe.” Fiedler told The Dodo that “Eventually, she laid down next to me, and I’m just talking to her and petting her, letting her know it’s OK.” Eventually Fiedler put a leash on her and led her to safety.

In the van, the dog “quickly closed her eyes and went to sleep,” Deputy Mahoning County Dog Warden Megan Zarlenga said. “She was exhausted.”

The YPD Facebook page picked up the photo and added some other details: “Officer Fiedler went above and beyond to save a frightened, abandoned dog that had been struggling to survive,” the YPD post states.

“Limping and frail, the dog was too terrified to let anyone near. Determined to help, Officer Fiedler took a different approach, one of patience, kindness and trust. Sitting quietly on the ground, she spoke gently to the dog, letting her know she was finally safe. The terrified dog after some time laid down beside her. With care and patience she was able to leash the dog and lead her to safety.”

In an interview with the Vindicator, Fielder acknowledged dogs have a special place in her heart.

“I’m kind of known as the dog whisperer of the department,” she said with a laugh. “I’m a huge animal lover, especially dogs. I grew up with dogs all my life, and they’re adorable,” she said.

On Monday, the Dog Warden’s Facebook page posted a sad update: “We have lost her,” it states. “Her lungs were too badly damaged. She was too weak to fight any longer. We are all devastated.”

“Unfortunately she passed away yesterday,” Fiedler said.