Nana doesn’t always get to just be a dog. Of course she isn’t just a dog, she is my super dog! Even super dogs need a way to release energy in a healthy manner. The mission is to find a safe and welcoming place that she can run and just be a pup.
There is a place that does K9 boarding, grooming, and day play that is just down the road from our campsite. I called and asked if they would sell 30 minutes of yard time. I didn’t want to pay for the day and I also didn’t want her to be unsupervised by me. Unfortunately they weren’t able to accommodate us. It only takes one negative experience with another dog for her to become reactive to other dogs. When in public a service dog should not be reactive to other animals or people. I usually shy away from off leash dog parks for the same reason. Although I have taken her to these kinds of parks, I always consider how many dogs there are. I observe the other dogs’ behaviors. I decide to let her in on a case by case scenario.
I really needed a hot shower. The New Hampshire weather has been on the cooler side. However, the humidity is high. It has been about a week since my last shower. Pee-Yeew. I was ripe. I found a truck stop in St. Johnsburg, Vermont about 30 minutes away that has a shower. After one of the best hot showers I’ve had in a while I sat in the Jeep and looked up things to do in town since we’re there. One thing that caught my eye was something called Dog Mountain and Dog Chapel. The first thing that pops into my head was Stephen King’s, Pet Sematary. Luckily it was nothing like that. Not today Gage!
Dog Mountain is 150 acres of mountain top property. It is nestled at the end of a dead end road. It is the perfect haven for dogs and people to enjoy the day. There are miles of trails and trout stocked ponds for our best friends to run, play, and just be dogs. Leashes are optional.
Dog Chapel is the vision of artist Stephen Huneck. Stephen was a self taught hand carver. Most of his sculptures were of animals, mostly dogs and cats. He had three labs himself and the lab does seem to be a predominant figure in his work. In his 40’s he became tragically ill. He was in a coma for 2 months with a poor prognosis. He was able to pull through but had to relearn everything, even his carving. After recovering Stephen had a recurring thought about building a chapel for dogs. His vision came to fruition. His goal was to make the chapel in a traditional New England style. He wanted it to look as if it has always been nestled on top of the mountain. I think he accomplished that. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world visit the chapel every year. Thousands of remembrances of dogs, loved and lost, cover nearly every section of the walls.
He wanted to help us honor animals as the feeling, spiritual beings they are and to also help us all find closure and healing. The Dog Chapel is a tranquil, sacred space to meditate with your dog as well.
Stephen and his wife are both gone. Nevertheless, his mission still exists through the help of a non-profit organization called Friends of Dog Mountain.
Nana was allowed to run like a maniac. There were about 6 other dogs there, including several other labs. She wore all the other dogs out. She was able to swim. It was her first time jumping into water that was deeper than she was tall! There was no hesitation whatsoever she ran straight into the pond and played with the other pups. She played chase at breakneck speeds. I can attest, she definitely wore herself out. I honestly think she wore herself out long before we left but her excitement wouldn’t let her realize it!
If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind with your K9-dred spirit, this is the place. I am sure there are other places very akin to this but I’ve not seen them. Seeing Nana so happy just being a dog for 45 minutes lightened my heart and rekindled my own soul.
Bear Belly Adventures 
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