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The Death of Stephen Huneck
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Dog Chapel is built like a 19th century New England village church in miniature. Bigger than a dog house but smaller than a house, inside are four hand-carved pews, with seated labs at the end of each pew, stained glass windows that feature his iconic winged dogs and a rug with the image of a dalmation hooked into it. Outside, the knobs to the two doors are in the image of dog heads and between the two doors, a dog door. On top of the steeple is a winged golden retriever in gold leaf. Few details are left out. Everyone is welcome. The walls are literally covered with messages and images of the pets people have lost. Stephen wanted everyone to come here and memorialize their lost pet on the "Remembrance Wall." Even if you couldn't come physically, Stephen urged people to send their remembrances by e-mail (love@dogchapel.com) so that they could be posted.
After his death last Thursday, Gwen, wrote a letter to the press to explain what had happened. She wrote, "Like many, we have been adversely affected by the economic downturn. Stephen feared losing Dog Mountain and our home. On Tuesday, he had to lay off most of our employees. This hurt Stephen deeply. He cared about them and felt responsible for their welfare." Two days after the layoffs, he shot himself in the head while sitting in his car outside his psychiatrist's office.
And so we have lost a wonderful, magical artist who brought joy to so many. But, more than that, all dogs have lost an amazing friend and a tireless advocate, an artist who felt that dogs, more than people, understand and embody unconditional love. Stephen sat by their side, rendered them, watched their every move, worshipped them, cast them as angels. Stephen was to dogs what dogs are to us.
Stephen Huneck was larger than life, a man of joy and whimsy but also, apparently, a man of sorrows. On one page in The Dog Chapel, he writes, "It Hurts Beyond Words to Suffer the Loss of a Friend." And the woodcut that illustrates that page is a black lab with golden wings, winging its way toward a bright star in the sky. May his path be swift and pain-free.
Reader Comments
Comment from Richard Lapointe on January 10, 2010
I wish I had the opportunity to meet this man. I've never heard of a greater advocate for dogs. In my community all the parks and school fields have signs that say: NO DOGS." This gentleman sounds like the antithesis of this sad creedo. Our Bailey succumbed to cancer last year and it still hurts to remember our last visit to the vet's office. After reading this article, I'm encouraged to think there are still others that care about dogs. My prayers and thoughts go out to Gwen and her family during this tragic time. Will Rodgers once said: "They say that dogs do not go to Heaven. If that's true, then I want to go where the dogs go when I die." I'm sure Stephen can be found "wherever the dogs go." May he finally rest in peace.
Comment from Alice Wagner on January 10, 2010
What a heartache for Mr. Huneck's family and friends; my sympathy to each of you. Here in Wisconsin, a heart-wrenching happening, when a young Minnesota couple had a car accident on their way to Milwaukee at Christmastime. Luckily they were barely injured, but their young dog was missing after the car rolled over and down an embankment. After many searched for Owen, his frozen body was found almost two weeks later near the accident site by a snowplow driver. At least his owners finally knew where he was, that he wasn't wandering cold, hungry and afraid. Of course, in some online accounts, commenters just had to say why all the fuss, that it was ONLY a dog, why wasn't he secured in the vehicle, aren't there more important things to worry about, etc., etc. Anybody who makes a comment about "dumb animals" has clearly never had the privilege of having a devoted pet in his or her life. I often think the world would be a better place if humans were instinctivly as smart and caring as animals. It seems that this was Mr. Huneck's philosophy and bless him for his work of showing respect and devotion of dogs to the public. Mrs. Alice Wagner in Wisconsin
Comment from Jeff P on January 13, 2010
It's saddening to realize that suicide is a permanent solution to what is almost always a temporary problem...
But, it's also heartening to remember Stephen for the many, unconditional acts of love and kindness he shared with both humans and dogs, alike, which are now his legacy...
My most, sincere sympathies go out to his family and friends over their tragic loss.
Comment from K Lech on January 18, 2010
How sad. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Comment from Rhonda Bouchard on January 22, 2010
He sounded like an amazing man ! I hope his family can come to grips with this tragic loss. But they must know, if but one thing......hes in Heavan now shining down on them and looking after them from above.
Comment from annie Gloss on January 26, 2010
such a wonderful tribute to a very special man. when anyone takes his/her life i think it makes grief even more difficult to heal. we are left confused and grappling with what feels like unnecessary loss. i am so sorry for his family and friends, for all the dogs who lost a friend, for the art world, and mostly for him - that he saw no other way to soothe his pain and fear. my sympathy to all.
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