Joseph Knutson was excited to hear his RCMP police dog name submission had been selected in a Canada-wide contest.

However, things were about to get even better.

On Thursday, Knutson had a chance to meet three local RCMP dog handlers and their canine partners.

It was a unique experience he won’t soon forget.

“It made me happy,” Knutson said afterwards. “I was really excited when I found out they were coming.”

Knutson’s suggestion, Kato, was one of eight names selected from thousands of entries that poured in from across the country. It’s the second time in three years that a Saskatchewan resident has had their entry selected.

The name means “all-knowing,” which Knutson thought was appropriate for a police dog.

For the rest of this story, please see the July 21 online or print edition of the Daily Herald.