In Marina, California, there is a wooden shelf next to the path to the beach. It has no books: it has sticks.
The Sanctuary Beach Resort called it a “dog stick library” and it works like those free neighborhood libraries, but for dogs. Each four-legged guest comes over, sniffs around, chooses the stick they like best and takes it to the shore to play with their family. The idea was for them to return it afterward, like a loan between neighbors.
But Sylvain Briens, the resort’s general manager, told the truth: dogs are excellent at borrowing and terrible at returning. Almost none come back with the same stick, so the employees themselves restock the shelf by hand, stick by stick, so that the next dog to arrive also has their treasure waiting for them 🐶