A 70-pound Rottweiler that alerted its sleeping owners to a fire in their house has been honored by the Mount Clemens Fire Department with a huge, 2-foot-long rawhide bone.

American Rottweiler - Scottvernier Ken and firedept

It was the first time the fire department ever presented a heroism award to a four-legged creature, according to fire Capt. Gregg Shipman.

“This modern-day Lassie truly is a hero,” Shipman said.

The 2-year-old dog, Kena-D, was honored at Monday’s Mount Clemens City Commission meeting.

Scott and Christina Vernier were sound asleep in their home on Market Street on Sept. 4, 2006, when faulty wiring caused a fire that sparked heavy smoke throughout the structure.

Kena-D went by the side of their bed, striking the bedside with his paws and eventually barking in an apparent effort to alert the Verniers of the danger …………………………..

It worked.

“She reacted out of her natural instinct,” said Scott Vernier, a member of the rock band, The Dream. “It was pretty scary that night.”

American Rottweiler and The VerniersThe Verniers rushed to the second floor of the house where Christina’s mother, Laverna Oak, resides and everyone was able to safely evacuate the home without any injuries.

“She knew something was wrong and she did her best to tell us,” Christina Vernier said of her dog.

Scott Vernier said he was also impressed with Mount Clemens firefighters.

“It’s pretty amazing to see firefighters walking into a burning building to help complete strangers,” he said.

While a jovial mood prevailed at Monday’s gathering, the Verniers still have yet to return to their burned-out home. They are renting a place until they can get back into their own home, which is undergoing repairs.

And Shipman said the situation underscores the critical need to have working smoke detectors on every level of the home.

“Without this dog’s quick actions, no one may have gotten out alive,” he said.

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