Zen, a five-year-old border collie, circles friskily around a mound of snow as he picks up a scent, his quick movements signaling to his handler that someone is buried deep below.
Zen has been a rescue dog for three years, and on this day, he was setting an example for 20 other dogs being certified for avalanche rescue in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, where the breathtaking jagged peaks have long enchanted writers, painters and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
