As any dog parent can attest, a visit to the park is always a minimum of 3x better with the right stick. Some doggos like to play fetch. Others like it when you hold one end so they can hold the other end. You know, gnaw on it a bit. Similarly, there are those in the tug ‘o’ war camp… as the name suggests, they appreciate a little more give and take. Then there are the whittlers, the Michelangelo of the crew. These furry ones like to tuck in with a good stick just as they might with a bone. They chew, chew, chew until they’re satisfied the job is done. Or the stick is pulp, whichever comes first.

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Andrew Taylor had recently done some sprucing up in his yard, including pruning the trees, which left him with a surplus of twigs and branches. Nearby his house, a new dog park would be opening soon. Knowing what a tragedy it can be to just be out there playing with no stick to play with, he set about ensuring that no doggo would ever needlessly suffer. Not even one moment of playtime, not in this dog park.

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Stick Library For The Win

The Kaiapoi, New Zealand resident was inspired by his own furry one, Bella, who couldn’t seem to stop herself from shredding all manner of toys. Squeakers, balls, plushes… nothing was able to survive her. That is, of course, until she picked up the stick habit. Now it’s all she plays with. So, when Mr. Taylor noticed there weren’t any good ones in the new park, he knew that was going to be an issue. But not for long…Papa Andrew to the rescue!

The answer became clear: a lending library! But instead of books, this one has sticks. That’s right friends, it’s a stick library, and dogs everywhere are giving it 4 paws up. Donating the spoils from his recent yard maintenance extravaganza, he single-handedly ensured a stick-filled playtime for all. Mover over Little Free Library, the stick library at the dog park is making headlines!

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Mr. Taylor even went to the trouble of sanding any rough edges down so no one gets hurt. Anyone who has been playing fetch with their dog and caught the business end of a rough edge as the stick slips from their hand knows exactly what a nice touch that is. He probably meant it more for the dogs, but we’re calling this a win for humans too.

No stick library is complete without a storage locker. So next up on the agenda was crafting a storage box in which to keep these primo sticks. Lastly, he engraved the top with the words “Stick Library, Please Return”, because all of this wasn’t adorable enough already.

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As you might expect, this stick library has been a total success at the local park! To christen the project, a get-together was held where about 50 dog parents and furbabies showed up to play. As Mr. Taylor’s daughter Tayla tells it: “As people started to arrive, there was a disbelief of how simple the idea was, but it’s one of those ideas no one had thought of. All the dog owners appreciate it as they all have experienced the ‘good stick search’ which isn’t always fruitful, it’s an idea that just makes sense to them.”

*Article originally appeared at Healthy Holistic Living.