Angie Hanson loves animals, photography

Meet Angie Hanson, an animal-loving photographer who has called Coeur d'Alene home for more than 30 years.

Angie is a veterinary technician at Lakewood Animal Hospital and serves on the board of directors for Kootenai Humane Society. She enjoys nature and animal photography, hiking with her dogs, Paris and Posey, and hanging out with her chickens, whom she lovingly calls “The Breakfast Club.”

She graduated from North Idaho College with degrees in graphic design and photography. Her animal career started about 20 years ago when volunteering at the Humane Society, where she took photos of pets that needed homes, helped with adoption and walked dogs. She found her passion and has worked with animals ever since. She has worked at Lakewood Animal Hospital for more than 10 years and has served on the board of directors for KHS as vice president for two years.

Generation: Generation X+Y. I love that I was raised in Coeur d'Alene, camping, hiking and fishing without a cell phone and with Saturday-morning cartoons.

What do you do at Lakewood Animal Hospital?

Vet assistant, pet photography and graphic and webpage design. I assist with pets before, during and after surgeries and other procedures.

Why do you love animals so much?

I have had a knack for rescuing animals from young age. I'd bring home snakes, lizards, frogs and bugs, and as soon as I could, started volunteering to work with homeless animals. I started volunteering at KHS while working as a graphic designer at a local real estate office. I soon realized I was making a big difference in myself and the lives of homeless pets. I started working as a kennel attendant “pooper scooper” at KHS in 2002 and worked my way up.

Do you have a favorite animal, or type of animal?

All animals are my favorite. I am fortunate to love my career and every animal I get to help. I’d say I am more of a dog person, but I definitely have my cat days.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I drive a purple Jeep Wrangler called the "Purple People-Eater."

What do you like to do when you're not caring for North Idaho's critters?

I’m outside. Enjoying Tubbs Hill, Coeur d'Alene Lake and all the surrounding beauty — hiking with my pups, exploring, photographing and enjoying all that our amazing community has to offer.

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Contact Devin: dweeks@cdapress.com