A powerful photograph taken by Carena Schmid, a Registered Veterinary Nurse from Linlithgow in West Lothian, has been shortlisted in a UK-wide competition by leading home care provider Caremark, as part of its ‘What is Care?’ photography competition.
Launched to mark 20 years of Caremark championing home care in communities, the competition asked the public to capture what care means to them in everyday life, from small gestures to big moments. Out of hundreds of entries, one finalist was chosen from each of the UK’s 12 regions, following a rigorous judging process carried out by Caremark’s head office.
Carena is representing Scotland with a photograph capturing Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies Venice and Jasper receiving their second vaccinations in a setting carefully adapted to their needs.
The image shows the pups in their favourite “paws-up” position, supported by their owners Claire Staines and Tracey Grant at Lothlorien Dog Services in Linlithgow, where the vaccinations took place — making the experience completely stress-free for the animals.
The image is now part of a nationwide public vote on social media to determine the overall winner of the competition. The photographer of the winning entry will receive a £1,000 luxury getaway.
Carena said: “This photo shows how working together can result in a calm, positive care experience — not just for animals, but for people too.
“The owners worked with me and the pups ahead of time to make sure their second vaccinations were completely stress-free. They chose the environment, used their favourite position, gave them treats, and practised gentle handling the week before.
“To me, care means compassion, kindness and adapting what you do to suit the individual, whether human or animal. This image is important to me as it shows how the best level of care can be achieved when everyone works together. Little things like this can have a such an important and powerful impact in animal welfare.
“I was shocked and surprised to be selected as a finalist — in a good way! I’m very happy that a photo which promotes positive care for dogs is representing Scotland.
“If I were to win, I’d love to go somewhere rural in Scotland with my husband and our lovely arthritic Border Collie Miss Darcy and spend some quality time together.”
Voting is open to the public via Caremark’s Facebook page and will close at 9am on 29th September 2025. The entry with the highest number of public votes will be announced as the winner shortly after voting closes.
Emma Scholes, Caremark’s Director of Marketing, said: “We’ve been genuinely moved by the creativity and thoughtfulness behind so many of the entries.
“With such an incredible standard from across the country, narrowing it down to just 12 finalists was tough because each photograph carried a personal story, so judging them was emotionally challenging. We felt that Carena’s photograph stood out as a powerful reflection of what care can mean.
“This competition marks 20 years of Caremark championing care in communities across the UK. It’s about shining a light on what care looks like in everyday life, from small gestures to life-changing support, and how differently people experience and express it. Each finalist has brought a unique perspective, and it’s been inspiring to see care interpreted so personally through their lens.
“We’re excited to now share these images with the public, celebrate the value of care in all its forms, and see who the UK public chooses as their overall winner!”
For more information about the competition and to view the finalists’ photographs, visit: www.caremark.co.uk/whatiscare
