D-O-G and G-O-D are so close in spelling, it was only a matter of time before someone combined the two. Enter the cuddly-children’s-book author and illustrator Stephen Huneck, whose Dog Chapel (143 Parks Rd., 802/748-2700, www.dogmt.com [1], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.) was truly a labor of love. After emerging from a life-threatening coma, Huneck was inspired to create a church celebrating the spiritual bonds we have with man’s best friend.
The church he built is a typical New England meetinghouse set high on a hill above St. Johnsbury [2]. Only instead of saints, the stained-glass windows depict canines; instead of holy water, the church offers actual water and treats for four-legged visitors.
Huneck encourages guests to bring their dogs for a walk through the hiking paths around the chapel. A gift shop sells the artist’s trademark wood-block prints of retrievers.
Links:
[1] http://www.dogmt.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/vermont/northeast-vermont/northeast-kingdom/st-johnsbury