A 'stick library' for dogs is making people wonder why no one thought of the idea before

Dogs are simple beings, and while they do need the care and support that the human world offers, sometimes, it's the simplest things that truly send them over the moon. Nothing seems to please them as much as a game of fetch or, sometimes, just chewing on a good old-fashioned stick. While sticks are often found in abundance in nature, they are often missing from controlled environments such as dog parks.

This is why several dog communities have begun to spread the idea of a stick library so that dogs can use and return ticks anytime they need to. An initiative by Dogs of Charm City (@dogsofcharmcity) and Friends of Patterson Park (@friendsofpattersonpark) is truly melting hearts. Patterson Park in Baltimore is one of many places that started offering local pups something to bark about as they can collect, share, and play. 

“Between DOCC’s mission to make Baltimore the most dog-friendly city possible through pet care, events, and community initiatives, and FPP’s mission to ensure the park’s vitality as a treasured green space and encourage its use and appreciation by neighbors, it was only fitting that dogs were able to have their own library right next to the human book-filled ‘Little Free Library,’” said Dogs of Charm City General Manager Alexa Cambi, via Baltimore Fishbowl.

“Whether a human (even without a dog) sees a great stick they want to add or you need to ask your dog to give up his or her prized stick until the next park visit, new sticks of all sizes are welcomed,” explained Alexa Cambi, Dogs of Charm City’s General Manager. According to the general manager, the library's sticks are to be up-kept and up-cycled by Baltimore parkgoers. "We kindly ask that people refrain from adding any dangerous, sharp, or frayed sticks," the woman added. Many people took to the comment section of the post which was uploaded on Instagram to talk bout the heartwarming initiative. 

Dog stick libraries have been a pretty popular concept that has emerged in the past few years. Back in 2022, a woman from Tennessee built a similar library dedicated to dogs. A picture was shared on X by a user named Tobythedog which features a small wood crate full of sticks and toys. A board over the crate read, "Dog library; take one, leave one."

"Made a dog library for our neighborhood. but instead of books, it’s filled with toys and sticks. I hope everyone likes it," Toby the dog wrote on the site. Many took to the post to talk about how much they liked the idea of a dog library. "So very special!! Lucky dogs who get to have that!" wrote @smith_bahn. "That’s great! I did the same beneath my Little Free Library," added @cityoftheangels. "I am absolutely obsessed with this. I love it. Take a stick, leave a stick," wrote @sophiesno1. "That dog looks like a capitalist and knows that most dogs won't bring them back on time," joked another user named @Robertw42802486. Very nice, bet your yard is very popular & every neighborhood dog stops on walks! PS thought why is the guy posting w/o the dog's name & details? Took too long to realize," added @HLWinkley.

You can follow @friendsofpattersonpark and @dogsofcharmcity on Instagram for more dog videos.