Article content Sydney and Jackson swirling with a joyful game through the snow. Indigo Clarke MediaArticle contentHow her love of dogs became a businessArticle contentClarke captures the joy of her playful dogs, whether perched on a lookout over dense deciduous trees or running along the shoreline with waves curling and foaming, churning up the sand. What started as her hobby turned into a business.Article contentIndigo Clarke Media focuses on the beauty and light of people and pets through the camera lens.Article content“My kids are adults and off doing their own thing, so these dogs have been just amazing. I have a photography business, and one of my favourite things is taking images of dogs. They’re just so expressive, and their joy is so palpable,” says Clarke.Article content“I think there’s just something so special about our connection with our dogs, and I love that relationship and capturing those moments. I like to say that I planned my dogs about as well as I planned my kids. They just happened. I’m so grateful that we took the plunge. I have these two little hooligans that run my life.”Article content Tracey Buchanan with dogs on a trail overlooking Annapolis Valley. ContributedArticle contentCelebrating – and protecting – dogsArticle contentNational Dog Day is celebrated annually in Canada on Aug. 26. It’s an occasion to honour all dogs, encourage the adoption of rescues, and recognize those that work with their owners.Article contentArticle contentTracey Buchanan will be celebrating this occasion, which falls on a Wednesday this year, by being out in nature with her two dogs, Forrest, a golden-Irish retriever, and Holly the pug.Article contentThe three, sometimes joined by other dogs, can often be seen splashing through streams, floating along lakes on paddleboards, or exploring forests and shorelines across Nova Scotia.Article contentBuchanan highlights their trails through her Instagram @dogsofbilltown or, as a canine first aid instructor who teaches pet owners how to handle medical emergencies, check vitals, perform CPR, and manage injuries, her Facebook page, Maritime Dog First Aid and Hiking Safety.Article content“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I eventually worked in a vet clinic when I was in my early 20s and quickly decided that this wasn’t the career I wanted,” explains Buchanan.Article content“There were many people who couldn’t afford to pay for care. It was heartbreaking. They had to euthanize their dog because they couldn’t afford to put a cast on its leg…I eventually ended up going into childcare, and then as my kids grew up, I began working with dogs.”Article contentArticle content Forrest, a golden-Irish retriever, and Holly the pug. ContributedArticle contentSharing skillsArticle contentBuchanan says vets are not always within reach. Knowing what to do when the unexpected happens — for example, a dog gets a paw injury, is sprayed by a skunk, is bleeding, has a blocked airway, or consumes poison — can save a life.Article content“I had a group of three dogs at the time, and I would think to myself when out hiking with them, ‘What would I do if one got a major injury?’ There were often paw injuries. In 2019, I decided to take a canine first aid course,” she explains.Article contentThe knowledge gained from the course led Buchanan to become a certified canine first aid instructor. She now helps owners and people working with dogs across the province and beyond in the comfort of their homes, at work, or in groups with a one-day program.Article content“We practice hands-on skills with dummy dogs, or if someone has a friendly, laid-back-tempered dog, we can try some skills on them,” she says. “Obviously, your own dog will be much different because they’ll be moving around. What I always tell people is, ‘Practice the skills in the course and then practice them on your dog.’”
Two canines saved their owners life could you save your pet’s life?
