   The holiday season officially starts this week, unless you’re one of those overachievers that drags out the decorations and starts menu planning the day after Halloween. For those with pets, it can be tempting to give Fido a leftover turkey bone or Fluffy a piece of bread during all these holiday festivities, but resist that temptation. No one wants an unexpected trip to the emergency vet. But what do we need to avoid? How do we keep Fido and Fluffy healthy and happy from Turkey Day through New Year’s? To get some expert advice on a safe holiday for our favorite four-legged friends, we chatted with Dr. Erin O’Toole, veterinarian at Vanguard Veterinary Hospital in West End.  Boring is beautiful, stick to their routine. It is very common for dogs and cats to get a few extra treats over the holidays, especially treats they don’t usually eat and those treats are often high in fat. Dogs and cats do not digest fatty foods well and it’s very common to see animals present with pancreatitis and acute gastroenteritis, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and abdominal pain. So avoid any non-lean meat product, such as ham or steak and bones.  Jump on the gluten-free bandwagon. Bread dough and yeast can expand in the stomach of your pet and create an obstruction. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. Garlic, onions and macadamia nuts are toxic as well. And Xylitol and artificial sweeteners can also be very dangerous to your furry loved one.  Take Catwoman’s advice – “Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.” Mistletoe, Christmas rose and holly can all cause gastrointestinal upset. Some species of mistletoe can also cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure. And don’t forget, poinsettias and lilies, the most common of holiday plants, are toxic if ingested.  Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree … It is not uncommon for pets to chew on these, which can lead to serious side effects, not to mention electrocution. Many dogs and cats will also try to drink out of the Christmas tree water, so avoid water additives to extend the life of the tree if the pet can access this water. If you’re aiming for having the Christmas tree up on Valentine’s Day and additives are your thing, make sure the water is covered to prevent access. Cats, at times, will ingest tinsel, which can be very dangerous. Tinsel can become a linear foreign body and, in severe cases, the sharp edges can cut the inner lining of the intestines. In households with cats, Dr. O’Toole recommends avoiding the tinsel all together to be on the safe side.  Baby, it’s cold outside… As the weather turns colder, there are some additional pet hazards to consider. Salt used to melt ice on roadways and sidewalks can be abrasive to their feet. If at all possible, it’s recommended to use a pet friendly de-icer. If your pet has walked through an area that has been treated with a salt based de-icer, Dr. O’Toole recommends wiping their feet off when they come inside. While your car needs antifreeze during the colder weather, be careful your pet doesn’t get near this extremely toxic liquid. If there is any possibility your pet has ingested antifreeze, they should be seen by a veterinarian immediately – time is of the essence in treating antifreeze toxicity.  If an accidental ingestion happens, call the Small Animal Emergency Services at 910-246-0405. The clinic is located at 5091 US Hwy 1 in Vass. Weekdays: 6 pm to 8 am Weekends: 6 pm Friday to 8 am Monday Holidays: 24 hours  Dr. Erin O'Toole graduated from the University of Missouri in 2010. She has focused her career on small animal practice and emergency medicine. Dr. O'Toole initially started doing relief work with K2 Solutions, eventually transitioning to a full time associate veterinarian in 2013. Dr. O'Toole has a strong interest in surgery and has attended advanced training in oral surgery and pathology, ultrasonography and echocardiography and laparoscopic surgical procedures. 
Eggs Benedict, French toast, Western omelet, breakfast offers so many great options. Have to admit, it's never the wrong time of day for breakfast. Tell us what your favorite breakfast dish is and where you like to order it.
 by Greg Girard
North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District is up for grabs on Nov. 4 , as it is every two years, and the two candidates vying to represent us in the House of Representatives faced off at the Pinehurst Resort in front of a room full of bankers and reporters. The North Carolina Bankers Association hosted the event that pitted incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., against challenger Clay Aiken of “American Idol” fame. Ellmers was first elected in 2010 and is looking to return to D.C. for a third term. Prior to elected office, Ellmers was a registered nurse for 21 years, eventually working with her husband, Dr. Brent Ellmers, at their General Surgery practice. Born and raised in Michigan, Ellmers resides in Harnett county. She serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is chairwomen of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee. Born and raised in Raleigh, Aiken is best known for finishing second in the 2002 season of “American Idol.” Before the instant stardom, Aiken was a teacher of autistic children and camp counselor at the YMCA. Aiken has since gone on to enjoy a successful singing career as well as becoming involved in several charitable initiatives, including the National Inclusion Project and as an UNICEF ambassador of education programs. OK, there’s the short and sweet on backgrounds of the two candidates. As for the debate, it was much of what you would expect. Party lines, for the most part, with Aiken trying to push the renegade, no-party-can-hold-me-down angle. Things did get testy though, so it made for some fun in between the rhetoric. A few thoughts and observations …. 
"I am interested in law. I like going to court and seeing all the different people and hearing testimonies and such. I want to prosecute. I want to put bad guys in jail, because I can’t be Batman ... because I can’t grow up to be Batman." #homc #humansofmoorecounty
 What's up? In this case, it's a rainbow. by Greg Girard
So how’s life? I think I hear a variation of that question just about everyday. Meant as politeness, for the most part, I’m not sure those that utter it really want to know. Seems to roll off the tongue automatically after a “hello” or “what’s up?” these days. I usually don’t think about my answer much anymore either. It’s typically a quick, “Not bad. You?” Even when I’m in one of these ebbing phases of life, I usually don’t want to burden the asker with my difficulties – although I think it would be interesting to see their reaction. “Actually, today life sucks …,” I say as the questioner outwardly cringes as if they ate an entire bag of sour patch kids. Bad form.  Every Monday, we'll ask your opinion on something about Moore County. Answer here, on our Facebook page, our Instagram account or our Twitter acwith the hashtag #MooreMonday. We want to hear from you.
 "Our purpose and what we want to accomplish in Moore County is to bring the Savior's love in greater abundance to all that we come in contact with. Not only that but to allow blessings and happiness that comes from receiving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Uchtdorf said "Compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God." God loves us and wants us to return to him. Any questions?" #homc #humansofmoorecounty
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