Dog-Lover Builds A 'Stick Library' At His Local Dog Park After Noticing A Shortage Of Sticks

Mar 14, 2020 by apost team

What is a “stick library”? Where is it located? It makes sense when you realize that it is located in a dog park! Early in December 2019, Andrew Taylor, aged 59, a toolmaker in Kaiapoi, New Zealand, wondered what to do with the branches he cut off when he was trimming the trees on the side of his house.

Andrew had the bright idea that he would recycle those hardwood branches into sticks and take them to a newly-opened local dog park to create a “library” that the dogs could enjoy by reaching into a box with its edges sanded down so that it would be easy to get into, reports The Animal Rescue Site. He engraved the box with “Stick Library.” We are sure the pooches have been delighted!

A dog park is a special controlled environment where dogs can have an accessible place to exercise safely and play off their leashes under the close supervision of their owners. According to The Kennel Club, these parks can differ in style and size but normally feature a fence, a double-gated entry and exit, a pooper-scooper to dispose of animal waste into covered trash cans, easy parking, and regular cleaning and maintenance of the grounds.

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Some parks have separate play areas for large and small dogs. Others have one large area for dogs of different sizes because they feel that all the dogs should be able to get along and play together in an open and safe area. The owners are also encouraged to gather and socialize on the benches provided, from which they can keep an eye on their pets and their activities.

A good example is the renovated Tompkins Square Park Dog Run, which was the first in New York City when it was opened in 1990 to establish a safe place for owners to gather with their dogs. It was later named by Rover as one of the top 10 dog parks in New York City.

That dog run brought the park back to its glory days due to the efforts of many volunteers and fundraisers who enabled a $450,000 renovation in 2008, according to the Tompkins Square website. The Parks Department had insisted that the run must be funded and managed by the community and not by the city.

When it was renovated, features were included such as a state-of-the-art running surface, underground drainage, both large and small dog runs, bath areas, hoses to spray off the dogs before leaving, three swimming pools, picnic tables, and more. The Run is open 365 days a year from 6:00 a.m. to midnight.

Let us know what you think about what dog parks should feature, if your local area has one, and if you make use of it.