A Moray vet is preparing her pets for a formidable challenge next month – a dog sled competition in Canada.
Bethan Fitzgerald, 35, practices at Elgin’s Miller and Swann veterinary surgery and when she isn’t helping poorly animals on their road to recovery she is readying for the upcoming showcase.
The mother-of-two and husband Brian – who will also take part in the contest – own 12 Scandinavian hounds, which are cross-breeds of Norwegian pointers and Alaskan huskies.
The pets’ participation in this year’s World Dryland Sled Dog Championships event will mark the first time British dogs have taken part.
The competition takes place over the weekend of Saturday October 31 in Quebec.
Mrs Fitzgerald said: “We have been involved in dog sledding for nine years now.
“It helps us enjoy the amazing partnership we have with our dogs, and the speed of the trails is really exhilarating.
“One of the main reasons we chose to live in Elgin is that the surrounding area and forests are perfect for practising dog sledding.”
In order to compete, the vet won a qualifying event at Culbin Forest, by Findhorn, earlier this year.
Mrs Fitzgerald will take part in the four dog race, which will involve the vet being pulled over three miles of flat terrain on a cart by four of her hounds.