Dear Hokie:
I love St. Patrick's Day -- it's my favorite day of the year. Is it okay if my pets join me for a little apple barley bread to celebrate?

-- Signed, Patty O' Sullivan


Dear Patty:
Is your pet an Irish Setter? Just kidding! Seriously, sharing your food with us animals isn't wise. Some "people" food can be toxic to animals -- and that includes corned beef, beer, onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate. Plus, table scraps tend to be high in calories and fat but low in nutrients, and they can easily upset your pet's stomach. So, the moral of the story is: if you want to spend March 17 toasting St. Patrick instead of rushing your pet to the vet, save the apple barley bread for yourself!

-- Love and kisses, Hokie

p.s. If anyone has any thoughts on how "people" food can cause serious problems in pets, please post it here!