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A “dog library” that began as a simple effort to repurpose old tennis balls has quickly become a hit in Stockton Springs.
George Russell, the town’s public works director, built the structure out of some plywood and lumber. He painted it white and installed it at Sandy Point Beach just over a week ago. It’s now stocked with used tennis balls and a variety of sticks that have been found along the roadside, giving dog owners free toys for their pups anytime they visit the town-managed beach at the outlet of the Penobscot River.
Russell, who has been in his position for nearly three decades, has been collecting tennis balls from a local player, who would drop them off at the town office after they had been used up. The stash has grown to about 100 balls over time.
“They would only use the tennis balls once or twice before they stop using them,” Russell said.
The idea for the library came while Russell was vacationing in the Florida Keys this winter, and he saw a similar one on a beach there.
Now, after he posted about the library going up on a public Facebook page, the news appears to have spread far beyond Stockton Springs.
Russell, who owns three golden retriever mixes of his own — Remy, Rivers and Joey — says the idea was both practical and personal.
“I saw a need, and I fulfilled it,” Russell said. “We get down there every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to take care of the trash and stuff. We’re there, usually, six in the morning, and there’s always dogs there.”
Several people were interested in it on Thursday afternoon.
Ashley Henderson of Brewer, her daughter and their two dogs, Ruby and Hazel, discovered the library while visiting Stockton Springs during a day-off. The pair had been venturing around the area and stopped by the beach for their dogs’ benefit, Henderson said.
Another Stockton Springs resident, who identified himself only as Bob, visits Sandy Point Beach with his German shepherd Kermit almost every day of the year, he said. He knows he and his dog — nicknamed “Kermie” — will make great use of the library.
“[Kermit] always likes to have something in his mouth when he’s walking, and we always had to go searching for sticks,” he said. “Now, they’re right there.”
Now, Russell anticipates building another dog library before the summer ends to be placed on Cape Jellison Road, he said. He noted that other towns have also reached out expressing interest in replicating the concept.
“I never thought in a thousand years that it would take off like this,” Russell said. “I absolutely think other places featuring the idea might try the same.”
