A free library in East Vancouver has been set up just for dogs
On a residential street in East Vancouver, a free library that caters to a canine crowd has become a community hub for pooches and their people.
The Hastings-Sunrise Dog Library on Cambridge Street began with a water dish set out by a resident dog lover. But it quickly evolved, according to volunteer Danielle Booth.
"It developed into stick exchange library and then we brought in a kiddie pool for the dogs for dog swimming. Over time, it's developed into this, she explains, pointing to shelves stocked with treats, toys, and accessories.
"It's kind of like a mini Bosley's but totally free. It's a place where the community can come and exchange pet supplies."
It now draws between 150 and 200 pooches per day from the neighborhood and throughout Metro Vancouver, as word has spread through a combination of word of mouth and social media.
"We created a connection of community with our dogs. All of this is developed because of our love for dogs," Booth says.
Volunteers from the film industry constructed three custom cabinets, a rotating group of volunteers maintains the library, the founder has secured a community grant and a sponsor has stepped up to ensure a steady supply of goodies. When a toy poodle needed expensive dental surgery, the dog library organized a fundraiser.
The hope, Boots tells CTV News, is that sharing the story of this library's success will motivate others to try something similar.
"We would love this to catch on it as a trend here in Vancouver. The little library houses, I think those are amazing," Booth says.
"Why not have a bunch of these in the city?"
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Peter Bremner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.

'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
House abandoned by couple who 'disappeared' 8 years ago major eyesore for upscale Toronto street
A Toronto man, whose neighbours vanished eight years ago and left their home completely abandoned, said he's fed up living next door to a property that is in complete disarray.
UCP candidate, slammed for comments on pornography in schools, quits
A candidate for the United Conservative Party in southern Alberta has resigned after she posted a video claiming children are being exposed to pornography in schools.
Here's how to know if someone is struggling with a video game addiction: Expert
A scientist at CAMH says video games have similar addictive features to gambling which cause social isolation of the individual and dependency on the activity.
'No question there need to be changes': PM responds to Nova Scotia mass shooting commission report
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a brief initial response to the final report from the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC) into Canada's worst mass shooting, which claimed the lives of 22 people in Nova Scotia in 2020. Vowing changes will come, here's what Trudeau said in Truro, N.S.
TREND LINE | Poilievre surpasses Trudeau when it comes to preferred prime minister: Nanos
The federal Liberals are trending downward on three key measures while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has surpassed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when it comes to the question of who Canadians would prefer now as their prime minister, according to Nanos Research.
Coroner rules against officer's 'suicide by cop' theory for Sammy Yatim inquest
A coroner has denied a request from a former Toronto police officer to explore a theory that a distraught teen he shot was committing "suicide by cop."