In what a department spokesperson called “a mission of bravery, teamwork, and … questionable smells,” firefighters in Destin, Florida, collaborated with a sheriff’s deputy to free a kitten trapped in a storm drain on Tuesday.

After cordoning off the area, the team attempted to coax the frightened kitten to safety by using salmon juice as bait. The mission hit a snag when the salmon juice accidentally spilled on the deputy’s uniform, but the rescuers persevered. After a long, tireless effort, the team was finally able to free the kitten.

After finally freeing the fear-struck feline, the situation took a heartwarming turn of events when the sheriff’s deputy, still covered in salmon juice, decided to adopt the newly rescued kitten. The kitten’s name remains under consideration, but, given the circumstances of its rescue, “Salmon” is a serious contender.

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Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.