Keno

FERNIE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Keno, a five-year-old Labrador Retriever from Fernie Alpine Resort in Fernie, British Columbia, was the first non-police dog to receive the Service Dog of the Year Award.

Keno was credited with saving the life of Ryan Radchenko after finding him buried under two meters of snow. Ryan, a ski lift operator was skiing down the mountain on the day before the resort opened, when a snow face beneath him gave way, causing an avalanche that took him downhill with it.

Keno and owner/handler Robin Siggers were on the scene in minutes and Keno went to work, quickly picking up Ryan’s scent and digging deep into the snow. After finding Ryan’s glove, rescuers began to dig around the remaining snow, pulling a semi-conscious Ryan to safety after being trapped beneath the snow for 26 minutes.