It all began with March Meowness.
When Worcester, Massachusetts, Public Library forgave late fees by asking patrons to post photos of their cats, no one expected the idea to explode into something bigger.
That clever campaign inspired others, this time appealing to dog lovers. One library had already eliminated overdue fines, but damage charges remained, so staff debated how to encourage book safety at home.
Middleton Public Library settled on a playful solution: show us the culprit and we will simply waive the damage fee.
When My Dog Ate A Library Book
Truly, it happened, and not in a metaphorical way.
Someone’s dog actually ate the very book they had borrowed from the local library. Readers in Middleton, Wisconsin no longer worry about overdue charges, since the Middleton Public Library did away with late fees, and they have extended their understanding to cover damaged items too.
There is, however, a simple rule: bring in a photo or show the dog who chewed the pages, and the damage charge will be forgiven.
This kind of compassionate idea took its cue from Worcester Public Library, which introduced fee forgiveness during its March Meowness festival.
Citizens in Worcester were relieved, thanks to feline photos that spared them from fines. Middleton took that spirit further.
“While the Middleton Public Library no longer has late fees for overdue materials, we do charge for lost or damaged materials. Quickly the conversation turned to the frequency of materials actually damaged by our furry friends, and we thought it would be fun to adapt this fine forgiveness program to showcase these ‘offenders,’” the library workers said for The Dodo.
The program delighted library patrons and pet owners. Patrons reacted with amusement.
In short, did your dog devour your book? No problem, show us the adorable offender and everything will be sorted.
Imagine if cute pet photos could ease our everyday worries?
Meet Middleton’s Canine Culprits
The program launched and already had its first offenders.
Daisy was the first culprit, a black-and-white pup who nibbled a mystery novel. Daisy, small and eager, broke the ice with a cheeky nibble that won hearts.
Soon Daisy’s photo joined a growing wall of fame; these dogs had no shame about their mischief.
Ward showed his stress by nibbling a yoga manual. It did little good, especially for the poor downward dog pawsition. Volunteers found his yoga-book chewing strangely endearing.
Next came Quik, an American Water Spaniel, whose stunt went viral and made the library a social hit. The clip of Quik quickly spread across social feeds, drawing curious visitors to the library.
Quik left literal dog-eared pages, amusing staff and patrons.
It was a tasteful read, and Quik had his own unique appreciation.
Then Sky tried reading for herself to see what all the fuss was about.
“Today’s chomper is Sky, a one year-old Australian Labradoodle who lives with Stephanie. Sky had been enjoying the popular Empyrean fantasy novel series until he got to book two, Iron Flame. After letting all 623 pages know his true feelings, Sky returned to his other favorite pastime according to Stephanie: chasing squirrels,” said the Library on Facebook.
Who’s next? New contenders will surely appear. Middleton Public Library doesn’t encourage destroying books intentionally, but if accidents happen, whether the culprit is a dog or another furry friend, the library will respond with understanding.
If a dog is a repeat offender, it’s worth investigating the cause. Boredom, anxiety, or fear can drive destructive chewing. To curb such behavior, offer your pet toys and activities that engage both body and mind while you are occupied.
The program has become a lighthearted community ritual, bringing laughter, connection, and compassion daily.
Not every library has a program like Middleton’s, so when playful forgiveness exists, patrons should celebrate it.