Our interactions with animals are one of the things which mould and develop our understanding of the world around us. I have always believed that without pets, zoos and petting farms (the ethics of those aside) there would be far fewer people interested in the envrionment. Connecting with an animal - a non human being -  gives us the opportunity to connect with our environment. Photographer Ola Bilski has always loved dogs, and has found them to be one of her favourite subjects.

Q. Can you tell me your earliest memory to do with dogs?
A. It was when I went to Poland for the first time to visit family, we went to Warsaw where my Mum is from. We stayed with her friends who had a crossbreed dog called Nero. I always used to tell people that he was my dog...

Q. When did you start photographing dogs, and why?
A. I think photographing was a natural process and development in my own work. I only really noticed how often I photographed dogs when I was photographing a lot during my holiday in Portugal where there are a lot of stray dogs. I also realised that I mostly make portraits; I think I got bored of people, so turned to dogs. This became one of my major photographic projects so far.

Q. They say "never work with children or animals" - what would you say to that?
A. Who's 'they'?

Q. What is your favourite photo, and why?
A. Oh. Um. I don't have a favourite photo, but a favourite moment with the salukie [above] he was just so regal, had a real aura to him... Just so beautiful.

Q. Could you tell me the happiest moment you have shared with a dog?
A. I could never really 'sleep-in' as a kid, so I was awake by the break of dawn, so in Poland I used to go outside to the veranda at the house with a bread roll, sit and feed Nero the dog and play fetch, have cuddles for hours and hours.

Q. And the worst?
A. Looking after a Bulgarian Spaniel called Rocky as extended research as part of my photography project. I'm used to looking after small dogs and puppies, so this was a huge challenge for me as he was stubborn and aggressive; understandably it was out of confusion and fear. He also had aggravated epilepsy, and seeing him having a severe fits, really broke my heart that I actually cried as I felt so helpless.

I love Ola's honest representations of man's best friend - an animal to which I owe my own love of nature. I believe the connection man shares with dogs is our greatest and most powerful window into the inner minds of all animals. Minds that experience pain, pleasure, and every emotion in between. I've always felt that anyone who takes the time to get to know a dog, could never honestly deny the true brilliance and sentience  of the animal mind.

For more of Ola's beautiful photographs, you can visit her Flickr site or her B.Log.