diff --git a/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts b/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
index fd348c4..6eee10d 100644
--- a/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
@@ -236,12 +236,16 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest): Promise<NextResponse> {
       // Process the animal image and get the IPFS URL
       let ipfsUrl = '';
       try {
+        // Ensure we have a valid userId before passing to processAnimalImage
+        const validUserId = userId || '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';
+        console.log('Using userId for animal processing:', validUserId);
+        
         ipfsUrl = await processAnimalImage(
           buffer,
           visionResult.description,
           visionResult.rawResponse,
           fileName,
-          userId
+          validUserId
         );
         
         // Award points to the user for uploading a valid animal image
diff --git a/src/services/animalProcessingService.ts b/src/services/animalProcessingService.ts
index b40c2ad..b714548 100644
--- a/src/services/animalProcessingService.ts
+++ b/src/services/animalProcessingService.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export async function processAnimalImage(
   visionDescription: string,
   visionResponse: any,
   filename: string = 'animal-image.jpg',
-  userId?: string
+  userId: string
 ) {
   try {
     // Get coordinates
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ export async function processAnimalImage(
     )?.description || 'unknown'
     console.log('Detected species:', species)
 
+    // Make sure we have a valid userId
+    if (!userId) {
+      userId = 'anonymous';
+      console.warn('No userId provided for animal record, using anonymous');
+    }
+    
     const registryId = await publishAnimalRecord(
       species.toLowerCase(),
       coordinates.lat,
@@ -101,13 +107,19 @@ export async function processAnimalImage(
       visionDescription,
       ipfsUrl,
       process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_PORTAL_NAME,
-      userId || 'unknown'
+      userId
     )
 
     console.log('Published animal record to Laconic Registry:', registryId)
     return ipfsUrl
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error('Failed to process animal image:', error)
+    // Provide more detailed error logging
+    console.error('Failed to process animal image:', {
+      error: error.message || String(error),
+      species: visionResponse?.labelAnnotations?.length > 0 ? 
+        visionResponse.labelAnnotations[0].description : 'unknown',
+      userId
+    })
     throw error
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/services/laconicService.ts b/src/services/laconicService.ts
index 853ff31..d939247 100644
--- a/src/services/laconicService.ts
+++ b/src/services/laconicService.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ interface LaconicAnimalRecord {
     description: string
     imageUrl: string
     portalName: string
-    userId: string
+    userId: string  // Single, consistent way to include userId
   }
 }
 
@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ export async function publishAnimalRecord(
   description: string,
   imageUrl: string,
   portalName: string,
-  userId: string
+  userId: string  // Keep this required
 ): Promise<string> {
   try {
+    // Create the record with required fields including contributor field for userId
     const record: LaconicAnimalRecord = {
       record: {
         type: 'AnimalRecord',
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ export async function publishAnimalRecord(
         description,
         imageUrl,
         portalName,
-        userId
+        userId  // Consistent place for userId
       }
     }
 
@@ -54,7 +55,20 @@ export async function publishAnimalRecord(
     return response.data.output
 
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error('Failed to publish animal record:', error)
+    // Log request details for debugging
+    console.error('Failed to publish animal record:', {
+      error: error.message,
+      status: axios.isAxiosError(error) ? error.response?.status : 'unknown',
+      data: axios.isAxiosError(error) ? error.response?.data : 'unknown',
+      recordData: {
+        mainObject,
+        location: { latitude, longitude },
+        imageUrl: imageUrl.substring(0, 30) + '...',  // Truncate for log readability
+        userId,
+        yamlSize: yaml.stringify(record).length
+      }
+    })
+    
     throw error
   }
 }