Hey mate, sounds like a killer idea!
A few things:
*Firstly, I am really sorry for your loss, and sorry that it sent you to a dark place. I have spent a lot of time in a dark place and it ain't very nice.
*If you are genuinely passionate about making kennels, and not doing it solely for the YouTube element, you will have a greater chance of success.
*You asked how to get your subscriber base started. Firstly, join various groups on Facebook that are similarly related and share your video's in a friendly bubbly manner (Don't just share a link with no words). Don't be scared to ask people to subscribe or share your video's at the end of each video. Most importantly, make sure you take time to reply to your subscribers when they leave a comment. YouTube is a community, not a broadcast network.
*You mentioned 'camcorder'. I use a Canon EOS M6 for my YouTube videos and can not recommend it highly enough. It takes high quality, high definition video footage. I have used several different cameras over the years, but the M6 which I have owned for a few months now is by far the best.
Good luck buddy!