It was an event to remember -- hundreds of blissed-out dogs swimming in Sandcastle's giant pool last September as their owners snapped photographs to record it all.

That happy scene will be repeated at the West Homestead water park next Saturday, and the Dormont pool will hold its own dog swimming party on Monday to cool off some hot dogs as summer comes to a close. Both events are fundraisers for good causes. Dogs get their chance to swim right after the pools are closed to people, and then the pools are drained for the winter.

The first "Dog Swim in Dormont Pool" will be held 6-7 p.m. Monday. The entry fee is $2 per dog. Show up early to fill out the registration forms. You can find out more about this at http://friendsofdormontpool.org .

Friends of Dormont Pool has organized this event to raise money for repairs and maintenance of the 1.85-acre swimming pool, which is one of the largest in the state.

Opened in 1929, the pool almost closed in 2006 when Dormont officials said they could not afford major repairs. The Friends raised enough money to save the pool then.

Staff from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society will hold a silent auction at the pool to raise money for shelter animals.

Next Saturday is the fifth annual Last Splash of Summer at Sandcastle Waterpark, a hugely popular fundraiser for the Animal Friends shelter. Admission is $25 per dog.

It's usually sold out months in advance, but this year organizers have added another session. Four hundred dogs have registered, but there's still room for 169 lucky dogs in the 1 to 3 p.m. session that day.

You must register in advance, either online at www.thinkingoutside­thecage.org or by calling 412-847-7055.

I've been to dog swims at Sandcastle and watched the big dogs swimming laps in the deep end of the wave pool. The waves, of course, are turned off. Small dogs wade and paddle in a regular pool on the lower level.

At both Dormont and Sandcastle, the dogs have to be on leashes while on the pool grounds. They must be off leash while swimming, and owners aren't allowed to swim with them. Animal Friends requires ID tags on dogs that swim, but that's a good idea at any event. All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations.

Diabetes is on the rise in the "human population" and in dogs and cats, according to the American Diabetes Association. And so the Pittsburgh Diabetes EXPO next Saturday has a special session for the owners of dogs and cats.

The free expo will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last year, 5,000 people attended.

The "Pets and Diabetes" session will be held at 1 p.m. Speakers are Lawrence Gerson, VMD, and Stephanie Berger, DVM, from the Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic, and Nathaniel Myers, DVM, from Pittsburgh Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Gerson said he expects this to be a question and answer session with pet owners.

Dogs and cats with diabetes are usually middle-aged and older. They're usually obese, not getting enough exercise and eating too many carbohydrates, Dr. Gerson said. Lifestyle changes can improve a pet's health.

Dogs with diabetes usually are insulin-dependent, much like type I diabetes in people. Cats may start with "intermittent diabetes" that can be controlled by diet and exercise, similar to type II diabetes in people, but the disease may progress to the point where insulin is needed.

Insulin especially formulated for cats and dogs is available, he said, as are glucometers for monitoring blood sugar levels.

Symptoms to look for are excessive drinking and urination.

Go to www.diabetes.org to register online and print out "A VIP Entrance Coupon" for quicker entry into the expo, or you can register at the convention center. The Diabetes Expo includes free giveaways of samples, product demonstrations, lectures, workshops, free health screenings, access to medical professionals, and cooking and exercise demonstrations.