Vermont Chapel for Dogs

I’m not a big dog lover but this story I found rather interesting and I may have to consider a trip here when visiting the Northern Kingdom.
After a new death experience this Vermont artist, Stephen Huneck, had a vision to build of all things a dog chapel. It would be a place “you could go to communicate with God about your dog” stated the artist. Not just for mourning the loss of man’s best friend but this artist hopes visitors will also contemplate and commemorate our unique human to canine relationship. So what’s different about this house of worship? Staying within the traditional 19th-century church Vermont country decor with two doors, one for women and one for men, but with his the artist added a dedicated dog door by the lower center portal. Decorated with matching raised panels and carved fan above the steeple with one of his “angel dogs”—a full-bodied sculpture, winged and gilded, of his Labrador retriever Sally.
This dog chapel is a must see for the a true dog lover as the funding to build it was from the sales of his art, and time to dedicate was between commissions. “I took any downtime I had and put it into that chapel,” he confesses. It opened in 2000 and now never closes. So if you are in the Saint Johnsbury Vermont area be sure to check out the chapel and his art gallery.

Sunrise Photo of Old Orchard Maine Pier

When winter falls in New England the character of the Oceanside towns changes faster then the autumn leaves. Businesses are shuttered and the snow blankets the town into a quiet sleep. With empty streets it’s a great time to grab a camera and capture the mood.