A big group of cleverly costumed dogs and happy humans gathered near the Fleet Science Center and Bea Evenson Fountain, then proceeded down El Prado to the delight of everyone watching!
Some fun photos!
(Yes, there were more than a few hot dog weenie dogs!)
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Costumed dog superheroes converged on San Diego’s Balboa Park today in order to perform feats of heroism at PAWmicon!
With the assistance of kind-hearted humans (some of whom also wore costumes) the cosplay canines helped to raise money and awareness for the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a nationally known animal shelter here in San Diego!
While PAWmicon isn’t associated with Comic-Con, it usually takes place around the week of San Diego’s big international pop culture event.
If you’re so inclined, would you help the Helen Woodward Animal Center by visiting their website here?
You, too, could be a superhero! Loving shelter animals are waiting for you to come to their rescue!
Would this four-footed Wonder Woman win the canine cosplay contest?
Princess Leia (aka Jessica Gercke) is a Helen Woodward Animal Center superstar who has helped saved countless animals. Perhaps you’ve seen her on San Diego television. I looked for Luke and Han but they must have been in a galaxy far away.
Another great dog/human cosplay combo! The Queen of Hearts!
Pikachu joined by two happy Pokémon pups.
Captain America was on hand! Check out his The Rise of Tiny Heroes comic here!
Krypto the Superdog has arrived to save the day! (Can Supergirl be far behind?)
I spun Mario’s wheel and got 2 of 3 pop culture questions correct! The difficult category stumped me.
It’s another four-legged Wonder Woman! Has she entangled a nearby villain with her Lasso of Truth?
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
What’s more fun than borrowing a book from a little lending library? Borrowing a stick from a Dog Stick Library!
Canines have the opportunity to borrow a stick to carry in their mouths while walking with their human companions in North Park. An innovative Dog Stick Library is open on the sidewalk near the intersection of Upas Street and 29th Street!
Is this clever, or what?
The absurdity–and sheer originality–had me stop in my tracks the other day. I love it!
How many dogs take advantage of this little lending library box? It was stocked up with a fine selection of sticks. Whether your four-legged best friend is a large Great Dane or a little Pomeranian, there appeared to be a stick perfectly sized for any mouth.
Now, the question must be asked: Do responsible dogs return the sticks? In good condition?
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
The 2025 San Diego County Fair is a “Summer Pet-tacular” so you know lots of fun pet stuff can be enjoyed all around the Del Mar Fairgrounds!
Wandering around, whether its inside the Pets Rock Live on Tour theme exhibit, or the many art and hobby exhibits, or the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show . . .you never know what funny pet images you’ll discover! A dog running for mayor? A skateboarding cat?
Enjoy some random photographs I took during my visit a couple days ago!
Also, if you missed it, check out the fair’s humorous Meowseum of Fine A(rt) by clicking here!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
The 2025 San Diego County Fair has a theme that’s close to the heart. It’s all about beloved pets.
Not surprisingly, a variety of non-profit organizations centered around animals are present at the big summer event in Del Mar. I stumbled upon several of these organizations. I’d like to draw your attention to what good people (and animals) are doing in their community.
The above dog and the next photograph represent an organization in Baja California, Mexico. La Manada Feliz rescues animals and provides them with a better life with loving people. Here’s their website.
La Manada Feliz operates a cage-free sanctuary where rescued dogs can receive medical care, learn social skills and heal. Their website says: Help us achieve our mission by adopting, supporting as a guardian and/or volunteering at our dog sanctuary in Valle de Guadalupe.
Next up, San Diego Spaniel Rescue does exactly what its name says. They are an all volunteer based non-profit organization dedicated to providing breed education, rescue, fostering, medical and adoption services for abused, abandoned and/or homeless Cocker Spaniels.
If you’d like to help them or would like to adopt a rescued spaniel, you can go to their website here.
More good work and smiles can be found at Pug Rescue San Diego County.
Here’s their website. Pug Rescue of San Diego County (PRSDC) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing unwanted, neglected, abandoned, and relinquished Pugs and placing them into a new permanent home where they may live out their lives in a loving and caring environment.
Check out the friendly dogs in my next photo! They are part of Pawsitive Teams!
Pawsitive Teams was founded in 1997 with a desire to be a volunteer-inspired and volunteer-run organization designed to promote the use of well-trained dogs to improve the lives of San Diegans. Our volunteer service dog trainers spend two years with their canine charges prior to placement with individuals with limited mobility who can benefit from the skills of our specially trained dogs. Our therapy dog program is overseen by a steering committee of volunteers dedicated to using therapy dogs with a variety of populations such as at-risk teens, active-duty military, children testifying in court, and those with mobility or developmental disabilities. Our mission with the therapy dogs is to partner with community organizations and work together with professionals in accomplishing client-related goals.
To learn more, check out the Pawsitive Teams website by clicking here.
Need I say the San Diego Humane Society does many wonderful things for animals in our community? They were at the San Diego County Fair, too, encouraging people to adopt a loving pet. Not just dogs!
Find your fur-ever friend today!
There are many ways that you can help their good work. Here’s their website.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
A popular attraction at the San Diego County Fair is the Exhibition of Fine Art on the first floor of Grandstand East. The fair’s theme in 2025 is our love for pets, so it isn’t surprising many of the fine art entries depict beloved animals.
The exhibition is extensive and broken up into many categories based on media and subject matter. Artists who’ve submitted their work, hoping for a blue ribbon, are from many walks of life all around San Diego County. When I checked out the exhibition, I couldn’t help noticing pets were a common subject, and not just dogs and cats. I saw rabbits, parrots and other critters!
There are pet portraits, pets painted humorously, pet abstracts! If you have a pet or simply love animals, the art will definitely put a smile on your face.
I photographed random examples that I really like…
Look who I met as I left the fine art exhibit. Woof and Meow!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
I recently walked past Dog Beach in Del Mar and was surprised to see the Dog Memorial Garden and its hundreds of painted rocks had vanished.
Today I learned what happened to the special memorial garden, which is also called Gwen’s Garden. It was relocated to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and now occupies the space in front of the Del Mar Historical Society’s Alvarado House!
I was told the Dog Beach Memorial Garden was moved because construction work is slated to begin on the nearby bridge.
If you’re going to the San Diego County Fair this year, make sure to visit the Alvarado House. The historic beach cottage is located to one side of the outdoor Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show.
When you walk up the ramp to the Alvarado House, you’ll see many heartwarming photographs of the beloved rock garden at Dog Beach, before everything was moved.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Three panels of awesome chalk art welcome people arriving at Grandstand East during the 2025 San Diego County Fair. The theme of the fair this year is “Summer Pet-Tacular” and images of dogs, cats and other non-human friends are all over the Del Mar Fairgrounds!
Stay tuned for the next day or two. I’ll be sharing fun photos of pet art that I found and like! Other stuff, too!
First, check out this incredible chalk art!
Three dogs ride a roller coaster at the San Diego County Fair. Chalk art by Meg and Toni Canilang.A party hat cat! Chalk art by Katie Bush.Two friends among flowers. Chalk art by Maribeth McFaul.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
This amazing bronze sculpture can be found in front of the National City Fire Department Headquarters Station 34, at the corner of D Avenue and 16th Street. It was commissioned in 2007 and created by local artist Richard Becker. It’s called Ring of Fire.
Fire stations around San Diego County often feature great public art. This might be one of my favorites!
I love the dog to one side!
Here’s a Facebook page that shows photographs of the sculpture being created.
I see, from this online history of the National City Fire Department, that in 2003 an old fire station located here was demolished and rebuilt, creating a station that was larger and more modern, and that in 2007 (same year as the sculpture) they launched their Paramedic Program.
Richard Becker has created amazing sculptures throughout our region. Enjoy photographs of four examples by clicking here and here and here and here.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Cool San Diego Sights! 