Josée Lavoie Photoart

06/19/2026

Welcome Valour! You’re already on a path to greatness

🐾 The CVSDU is proud to introduce our newest furry helper, Valour.🐾

Although still a young puppy, Valour has already begun an incredible journey—one that will ultimately change the life of a Canadian Veteran or First Responder living with PTSD. Over the coming months, Valour will learn the skills, discipline, and specialized tasks needed to become a certified Service Dog, providing comfort, confidence, and life-changing support to someone who has dedicated their life to serving others.

For many of our recipients, a Service Dog is much more than a companion. These remarkable dogs help reduce anxiety, interrupt panic attacks and nightmares, provide a sense of safety in public, and help their handlers reconnect with family, friends, and their communities. They become trusted partners on the road to healing and recovery.

Every Service Dog begins as a puppy with potential, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Valour is now taking the first steps toward becoming a hero for someone in need.

Please join us in welcoming Valour to the CVSDU family and follow along as this special puppy grows, learns, and prepares to make a lasting difference in the life of a Canadian Veteran or First Responder.

Thanks to Edith Girard of Élevage Rose des bois for this amazing addition.

❤️ Welcome to the team, Valour!

06/12/2026

Ok so this was a REALLY hard session to keep under wraps haha! A big thanks to Ottawa Dog Rescue for asking me to be surrounded by puppies for an afternoon, it was SO much fun. 😄

06/04/2026

Is there anyone out there who can help? The lovely people at Greens Creek Donkey and Mule Sanctuary are doing such amazing work, and their animals need hay!

05/26/2026

Achievement unlocked: Wolfhounds

Two Irish Wolfhounds. One session. Zero chill on my end. 🐺🐺

I have wanted for SO long to meet this breed in person, let alone photograph one — the sheer size, the shaggy coats, those soulful eyes — and yesterday it finally happened. Twice over.

Madigan and Watson, you were absolute stars. You made me fall even more in love with a breed I was obsessed with prior to meeting you.🤍

You were everything I hoped for — majestic, calm, and absolutely breathtaking in front of the camera.

Thank you so much to your parents (and aunt!) for trusting me with photographing your incredible dogs! ....and giving my spouse and I something to discuss, for possibly our next dog? 🐺🤍

Preserve precious memories of your beloved pet with the help of an experienced Ottawa dog & pet photographer.

05/24/2026

Murphy: *sits nicely for portraits*
Murphy: *holds every pose*
Murphy: *waits until the very end*
Murphy: NOW CAN I SWIM?? 🐶💦

The answer is yes, Murphy. Always yes. 😍

Preserve precious memories of your beloved pet with the help of an experienced Ottawa dog & pet photographer.

05/04/2026

You like dogs, right? And beer?

The May long weekend will soon be here! Stock up on some super tasty suds all while helping save rescue dogs. You can enjoy an all Canadian holiday while helping Canadian dogs. It’s an overall win, eh?

🍻 Drink Beer. Help Dogs. Repeat. 🐾

Our Rescue Brew is now available at Broken Stick Brewing Company in Hammond!

📍 600 Du Golf Rd, Hammond

Every purchase gives back directly to the dogs in our care:
🐶 $1 from every can
🐶 $2 from every pint

This special brew was created by Broken Stick Brewing Company, and the label was chosen through our Rescue Brew Photo Contest, turning rescue dog charm into something that helps even more dogs in need!

So if you’ve been looking for a sign to grab a cold one and support rescue dogs… this is it. 💛

Tag your beer buddy and make a trip out of it! 🍺🐾

04/28/2026

A proud moment.

I'm late in posting this, but the amount of pride hasn't changed. This year I decided to challenge myelf and enter my 1st National Image Competition with the Professional Photographers of Canada.

I submitted 4 images, and all 4 were selected! I may or may not have cried happy tears 🙂

Watching the judging is a daunting process! You see your image come up and a panel of judges then discuss whether it meets several criteria to be accepted into the salon. My heart was pounding in my chest every time one of mine came up!

Posted below are my awarded images; yes, I DO photograph things other than pets, but they are where my heart is.

Thanks for letting me share my joy. :)

04/20/2026

🍻🐾 It’s taken us a week to write this thank you, not because it was an afterthought, but because we genuinely can't find words big enough for the gratitude we feel after this year’s PINTS & PAWS Rescue Brew fundraiser.

WOW. We are still blown away by everyone who made this event so incredible.

To our amazing friends at Broken Stick Brewing Company, Hammond Golf, and Josée Lavoie Photoart— thank you for believing in this fundraiser, sponsoring this event, and turning a fun idea into something that truly changes lives for dogs in need.

A special thank you to Dave at Broken Stick Brewing Company — the brewer behind Rescue Brew and the talented designer of the beer label. Dave, you are amazing, and we are so incredibly appreciative of everything you do to make this fundraiser so special.

A very special thank you to Josée Lavoie Photoart, whose original idea helped bring Pints & Paws to life. From helping create this fundraiser to generously photographing the winners and beautifully capturing the celebration, your creativity, heart, and dedication have helped make this event what it is. We are so grateful for everything you’ve poured into it.

To the wonderful staff at Hammond Golf— thank you for your kindness, hard work, and helping make last weekend such a memorable celebration.

And to every single pet owner who entered the contest, every friend and family member who voted, every person who shared, cheered, donated, attended, and supported... thank you. You made this fundraiser something truly worth celebrating, and the money you raised is going to change so many lives.

Because of YOU, we raised over $12,000 for rescue dogs still waiting for their happy ending. That is huge. ❤️

Last weekend was amazing — people came to meet adoptable dogs, witness the Rescue Brew label reveal, eat, drink, laugh, and celebrate... all for the love of dogs. It was one of those days that reminds us how powerful community can be.

Special shoutout to Lilo, this year’s winner, who arrived with a full entourage and absolutely understood the assignment. 👑🐶

The generosity keeps going: Broken Stick Brewing Company has committed to donating even more while quantities last:
🍺 $1 from every can
🍺 $2 from every pint

Rescue Brew is on tap and in cans now at Broken Stick Brewing Company / Hammond Golf— so go drink beer in the name of rescue dogs!

Thank you for supporting northern dogs in need. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for caring. Thank you for making this what it was.

One thank you post doesn’t feel like enough, so stay tuned for some amazing photos from the celebration, taken by the amazing Josée Lavoie Photoart 💕

We love you all... and we’ll see you again next year for the 3rd Annual Pints & Paws Photo Contest 😉🐾

04/13/2026

Holeeee cow! I cannot find the words to thank everyone enough.

Last night Hammond Golf hosted the 2nd "Pints and Paws" Rescue Brew label reveal. The brew is a collaboration between myself, It Takes A Village Dog Rescue and Broken Stick Brewing Company to raise funds for the rescue. The photo contest portion alone raised over 12K! The folks at Broken Stick Brewing Company have generously committed to another $1/can and 2$/draught (while quantities last) to the rescue. If you scan the attached photos, Dave (aka the big hotdog) is the brewer and beer label designer. Thank you Dave.

I've been trying to come up with words that do justice to the efforts of all the volunteers with It Takes A Village Dog Rescue and the folks at Hammond Golf and Dave at Broken Stick Brewing Company. I can't. Their aren't enough words in the English vocabulary to convey how thankful I am to be a part of somehing so good. Some of the staff at Hammond Golf worked a full night the previous night, and got up to be there for our event. Lyndsey, et al, you're all freeking angels in my books!

This is what this is all about, it was something to witness; I got to spend time with Lilo and Quillan, our 1st and 3rd place winners, outside on the Hammond Golf dog friendly patio. They had apparently never met prior to yesterday. These two dogs were legit INSEPARABLE for a full 20 minutes. Like full on, chewy face, play with me, I love you energy.

Last night was...great. It seems like a trite word, but for me, it was great. People came to meet adoptables, witness the beer label reveal, and ate, drank, had fun.....all for the love of dogs.

Lilo, this year's winner, had a full entourage with her! Thank you for entering our contest and supporting Northern dogs in need.

And thank everyone who came to make a difference to dogs in need. Love you all.