Monday, October 23, 2023 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Central Library, Neil Morgan Auditorium (1^st Floor) | Learn More

We loved your submissions, but now it's finally time to see which dog videos are worthy of a Sirius Award! Join us for an evening of phenomenal community-submitted films and an informational panel from dog behaviorists, animal rescues, and conservationists.

Please note that only Service Dogs are allowed within library buildings.

We invite attendees to please bring donations of dry dog food, treats, and other canine objects for our donation drive supporting Project Street Vet. (see this LINK for a full list.)

Register Here

Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Central Library, Courtyard (1^st Floor) | Learn More

Dress up your dog in their most fashionable attire and enter to win the fluffiest pageant you've ever laid eyes on! Then stop by an information table from one of our community dog partners and learn more about the services available to your canine companion! San Diego Humane Society will be providing FREE MICROCHIPPING to attending canines. Dogs must be leashed at all times. This program is outdoors. Only service animals are allowed within the library building.

We're partnering with Project Street Vet to help feed and care for dogs in need! From October 1 - 31, drop off un-expired, unopened, and new approved items at the listed locations below.

We're looking for the following items: Small bags (5 lbs.) of dry dog food, dog treats, leashes/collars, grooming accessories, dog toys, and dog booties for hot weather.

We'll be accepting donations at the following locations:

• Central Library


• Carmel Mountain Ranch Library


• La Jolla/Riford Library


• Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox Library


• Mountain View/Beckwourth Library


• Ocean Beach Library


• Pacific Beach/Taylor Library


• Paradise Hills Library


• Point Loma/Hervey Library


• Rancho Peñasquitos Library


• University Community Library


• University Heights Library

We are also accepting donations at our Dog Stars and Howl-O-Ween events, held at the Central Library.

DogtoberFest: Bone Appetit

Monday, October 2, 2023 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Central Library, Denny Sanford Children's Library (1^st Floor) | Learn More

Join us at the library and create a decadent, delectable treat that your favorite pup will devour. We will prepare our finest ingredients with cookie cutters and molds. 

Doggerel: An evening of crappy verse

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Central Library, Shiley Special Events Suite (9^th Floor) | Register Here

Kick off DogtoberFest with an evening of low-brow, overly-contrived, and badly constructed poetry. Win prizes for your lack of eloquence or surprise your audience with something approaching a cohesive thought!

Poets and philistines non-poets of all skill levels are welcome. We will start with some workshopping, then move to an open mic poetry slam. Prizes will be given away throughout the program. Light refreshment will be available.

Your Next Step: Veteran Service Dogs and You

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Central Library, Virtual Travel Center (5^th Floor) | Register Here

Can service dogs help me with PTSD? TBI? MST? Can they help me feel more secure? Can they help me be self-sufficient again? What even IS a service dog? Join us on October 4th from 2:30 to 3:30pm to learn more about service dogs, if they're right for you, and how you can take that next step.

We will also be joined by PATH's Supportive Services for Veteran Families. Learn more about what valuable services they and other offices can offer to homeless veterans and their families.

Knit One, Crochet Too: Special Dog-Item Sessions

Wednesdays, October 4 and October 18, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Central Library, I CAN! Center (1^st Floor)| Learn More

Learn to knit and crochet dog sweaters, toys, and accessories!  Items will be donated to Project Street Vet during the Dogtoberfest donation drive.

An Evening with Dave Eggers Presented by Library Foundation SD

Monday, October 9, 2023 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Central Library, Neil Morgan Auditorium (1^st Floor) | Learn More

Dave Eggers, author of The Circle, The Every, Voice of Witness , and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius will visit to discuss and sign copies of his new work, The Eyes & the Impossible, a soulful fictional story of a free dog living in a park where change is coming. View book trailer here.

Humane Society Program:  How to Care for Dogs / Pet Safety

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Carmel Mountain Ranch Library | Learn More

Our friends from the San Diego Humane Society will be here for this special program!  Learn about how to take care of dogs, as well as pet safety.  If available, canine ambassadors will be on hand for participants to meet.  Although this program is designed for students grades 3—8, everyone is invited to participate. 

Sketch Night: DogtoberFest Edition Part I

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Zoom Program | Learn More

Teens and tweens ages 10-18 are invited to join Sketch Night!  This free virtual drawing program is run by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with staff from the Carmel Mountain Ranch, Central, and City Heights libraries.  Registration and prerequisites are required.  

All October Sketch Night classes will be tie-ins with SDPL’s DogtoberFest.  This month, participants will learn how to draw dogs or puppies through simple step-by-step instructions.  Each class will feature a different dog-themed project. 

Contact Juan Carlos Robles at 619-541-5188 or JuanCarlos.Robles@sdcounty.ca.gov to sign up. Please give him your name, age, phone number or email.

This class is taught on Zoom.

Preschool Storytime: DogtoberFest Edition  

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Carmel Mountain Ranch Library | Learn More

Join Children’s Librarian Miss Julie for stories, songs, fingerplays, and lots of fun! This program will be a tie-in with SDPL's Dogtoberfest, and will feature stories and songs about dogs and puppies. Due to construction noise on the old golf course, this program has been moved indoors. This program is designed for children ages 2-4.

Sketch Night: DogtoberFest Edition Part II

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Zoom Program | Learn More

Teens and tweens ages 10-18 are invited to join Sketch Night!  This free virtual drawing program is run by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with staff from the Carmel Mountain Ranch, Central, and City Heights libraries.  Registration and prerequisites are required.  

All October Sketch Night classes will be tie-ins with SDPL’s DogtoberFest.  This month, participants will learn how to draw dogs or puppies through simple step-by-step instructions.  Each class will feature a different dog-themed project. 

Contact Juan Carlos Robles at 619-541-5188 or JuanCarlos.Robles@sdcounty.ca.gov to sign up. Please give him your name, age, phone number or email.

This class is taught on Zoom.

The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Spooky E-mail Serial

October 17 - 31, 2023 | Register Here

Celebrate the spooky season and enjoy daily chapters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles sent straight to your email. Register here to be sent a chapter of the story each day. No strings, no time commitments!* Your email will not be shared with other participants. Late sign-ups will receive a link to previous chapters rather than plain text. 

*An entirely optional Zoom discussion will be held on November 6 from 6:30-7:30. The link to this will be sent in the final chapter's email, or you may email Pbronstein@sandiego.gov if you would like a Zoom link, but don't want to receive the email serial.

Humane Society Storytime

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Carmel Mountain Ranch Library | Learn More

Our friends from the San Diego Humane Society will be here for this special storytime! In addition to telling stories, staff will bring canine ambassadors for participants to meet. This program will be a tie-in with SDPL’s Dogtoberfest, and is designed for children ages 2-4.

Crafting for Critters

Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

College-Rolando Library | Learn More

Providing enrichment for our animal friends is incredibly important! During this monthly program you can help us make fun and easy enrichment items for homeless animals at our local Humane Society. 

Plus, fill out a Volunteer Log from the Humane Society to get service hours for attending.

Select dates will have a friendly Canine Ambassador. Fill out a Volunteer Log from the Humane Society to get service hours.

Pawsitive Teams - Live Service & Therapy Dog Demonstration

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Central Library, I Can, Too! Center (1^st Floor)| Learn More

Pawsitive Teams will be in the I CAN! Center presenting their team of service dogs and therapy dogs and the skills they can provide. They are a volunteer-run organization, and they serve a variety of populations in San Diego, such as at-risk teens, active-duty military, children testifying in court, and those with mobility or developmental disabilities. Learn more about the training that goes into making a service, therapy, and facility dog. This live demonstration will cover service dog skills that help people stay independent and the role therapy dogs play in the community. Come find out what Pawsitive Teams: Service & Therapy Dogs is all about.

Crisis Dogs in Action: Learn and destress with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Central Library, Mary Hollis Clark Conference Center (1^st Floor)| Learn More

Did you know that spending just 5 minutes with a dog can lower your stress and cortisol levels? The SD Fire-Rescue's crisis response dogs will be visiting the Central Library on October 25th to help patrons learn about how dogs can aid in stress relief (while providing hands-on proof!). These certified crisis dogs and their handlers are trained to recognize stress in humans and provide comfort in a safe, compassionate, and fluffy manner.

Make It! Dog Swag

Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Central Library, IDEA Lab (4^th Floor)| Learn More

Celebrate your canine friend with a customized bandana, collar tag, and treat pouch!

All ages welcome. Materials provided, while supplies last. Please remember that only service animals are permitted in the library. Pets should remain at home.