WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/23/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Friends remember a Tech student and try to comprehend his death in Iraq.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
Plus, investigators pin down the cause of a fire in Roanoke earlier this week... they say it was an accident.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

In sports, UVa gets back on the court after a long layoff,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Michael Vick inks a new multi-year deal with the Falcons.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[SS=None]

The next arctic blast heads our way. How long will it last? I'll let you know in your forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

[ENG#=3]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 17:52:50]
[IN Q=He was coming back...]
((JOHN BARRETT/VIRGINIA TECH JUNIOR; HE WAS COMING BACK IN FEBRUARY. THAT'S ALL WE COULD THINK OF. HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND HANG OUT WITH US. AND HOPEFULL GO BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. IT STILL DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S REAL RIGHT NOW.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=it's real right now.]
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[VO-NAT]
Friends of a Virginia Tech student killed in Iraq remember his life, and wonder how his death could have happened.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young. Jean and Keith are off tonight.

[Nick-Mason]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-40 TC1:53:19]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Casualties]

20 year old Nick Mason was killed this week when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive in a mess hall near Mosul. The King George County resident was a member of the Virginia National Guard, and had been a student at Virginia Tech.

[***IRAQ GRAPHIC IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Richard/BAM;]
Richard Lesko spoke with two college friends of Mason's, and joins us with more.
[LIVE=Richard/FULL BAM]
[SUPER=@richard1;]
Friends of Nick Mason remember him as an energetic, well-liked student, always bringing life into a room. In addition to being a good friend, they say he was also a dedicated soldier.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Barrett/Virginia Tech Junior; :14]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :31 quick]
[SUPER=01-Martha Clay Martin/Virginia Tech Junior; :36]
[SUPER=04-Richmond Times-Dispatch Photos; :54]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=it is just impossible to believe for us.]
((Nick Mason had been serving in Iraq about 10 months, and was scheduled to return home in February. He had completed his freshman year at Virginia Tech and was hoping to return to pursue a degree in agriculture.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 17:50:53]
[IN Q=I talked to him...]
((JOHN BARRETT/VIRGINIA TECH JUNIOR; I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN HE GOT A CHANCE TO GET ON THE INTERNET IN IRAQ. HE WAS JUST A GREAT GUY. EVERYBODY LOVED HIM, IT WAS HARD NOT TO LIKE THE GUY. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=not to like the guy.]
His friends say he was devoted to the military, and was anxious for his National Guard unit to be called up for active duty.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 17:56:55]
[IN Q=Freshman year...]
((MARTHA CLAY MARTIN/VIRGINIA TECH JUNIOR; FRESHMAN YEAR, ALL HE COULD TALK ABOUT WAS WANTING TO GO. AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT COMING BACK, BUT IT GOT HIM EXCITED. HE WANTED TO GO. IT'S WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. HE DIED DOING WHAT HE WANTED TO DO, SO THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=counts for something.]
13 U-S service members were killed in the bombing. Nick Mason's friends say they knew he was in a dangerous place, but since he was not expected to see direct combat they never imagined he would be killed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 17:55:57]
[IN Q=I never thought...]
((MARTHA CLAY MARTIN/VIRGINIA TECH JUNIOR; I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HIM ABOUT DYING BECAUSE IT'S NICK. IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND THAT HE MIGHT NOT COME BACK.))
[RUNS =9]
[OUT Q=might not come back.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:52:35]
[IN Q=It was just hard...]
((JOHN BARRETT/VIRGINIA TECH JUNIOR; IT WAS JUST HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A FRIEND OF OURS GOT KILLED. OUT OF ALL THE ONES OVER THERE, AND ALL THE ONES HURT, A GUY LIKE NICK GOT HURT. HE WASN'T EVEN IN COMBAT. IT IS JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE.))
[RUNS =13]
[OUT Q=impossible to believe.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Richard/FULL BAM]
Virginia Tech will consult with Mason's family to determine how he will be remembered on campus.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Richard/BAM;]
But Shannon, his friends are planning to hold their own memorial once classes resume in January.

[Tazewell-Soldier]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The other Virginia soldier killed in the bombing has been identified as 20 year old David Ruhren from Stafford County.
A soldier from Southwest Virginia is apparenly among the wounded.
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports Sergeant Kyle Wright of Cedar Bluff in Tazewell County was wounded and is recovering.
The family support coordinator for Wright's unit says he's in a hospital in Iraq.

[Pitts-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A head-on collision in Pittsylvania County killed a Danville woman today.
State police say 58-year-old Beverly Ragsdale died at the scene of the accident on Route 29 in Blairs.
A truck crossed the median and struck her car just after 8 this morning.
Police say Ragsdale was not wearing a seat belt.
The truck driver, 32-year-old James Bryant Ackley, survived the crash and was charged with reckless driving.

[Grayson-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=04-55 TC02:35]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]
[ENG#=1]

Roanoke authorities say a fire that destroyed a Grayson Avenue house this week was an accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday]

Officials say it started either from careless smoking, or from material left too close to a kerosene heater.
The homeowner suffered serious burns.
Officials say they won't release his name because of federal privacy laws.
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[Urban-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=04-45 TC45:05]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
[ENG#=2]

Heavy rain earlier today caused some minor street flooding in Roanoke.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The showers just before noon left deep puddles in places like Shaffer's Crossing and Campbell Avenue southwest.
City crews put up barricades at Patterson Avenue and 24th Street.
The rain was gone as quickly as it came, leaving cold air, clear skies and no hope of a white Christmas.
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[Plane-Mud]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-39 TC2:06:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

An airliner ran off a runway in Richmond this morning, delaying inbound flights and holiday travelers for hours.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; ]
A spokesman for the Richmond International Airport says the Dallas-bound plane carrying 129 passengers got stuck in the mud, blocking two major runways and forcing passengers on that flight to make other arrangements.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The aircraft itself...]
[SUPER=01-Troy Bell/Richmond International Airport; :00]
[SUPER=01-Martha Mitchell/Mid-Atlantic AAA; :12]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=need to call ahead and be patient.]
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[VO-NAT]
The airport says visibility was good when the incident happened, although there was some drizzle at the time.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=2-Shot]
[WRITER=dse]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=APRISA]

The bumper stickers are already circulating. So what does Governor Mark Warner think about a run for President?
We'll ask him next on News Seven at Six.
Plus think you're the only one feeling holiday stress?
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[VO-NAT]

Vets say it can affect your pets too.
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[1st-Wx]

[Warner]

(NO MINI OPEN)

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC1:33:20]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]
He's being touted as an up and coming leader in the Democratic Party, but Governor Mark Warner says, right now, he's focused on leading Virginia. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 GRAPHIC IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jennifer/Newsroom;]
Capitol Correspondent Jennifer Wishon joins us for part- two of her interview with the governor. Shannon, Warner continues to promote his campaign slogan "One Virginia, One Future"
[LIVE=Jennifer/FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1;]
And during the last year of his term he hopes to make it a reality by spreading northern Virginia's economic success into every corner of the Commonwealth.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC...I love this job]
[SUPER=03-Covington/December 8; :00]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :21]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :34]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./May; :44]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=TO DO A GOOD JOB AS GOVERNOR]
(([SOT 04-43 TC 51:53]
((NATS OF DANCING IN COVINGTON)) [RUNS03] [COVER BITE WITH VIDEO OF GOVERNOR DANCING]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:30:16]
[IN Q=I love this job]
((MARK WARNER: I LOVE THIS JOB. IT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING, EXCITING AND FRUSTRATING JOB I'LL EVER HAVE.))
[RUNS= 05]
[OUT Q=job I'll ever have]
From rewarding Covington students with a dance to amending the state budget- Governor Mark Warner says one of his biggest challenges is finding a way for ALL Virginia communities to succeed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:32:03]
[IN Q=I would hope and pray]
((MARK WARNER: I WOULD HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE BEST LEGACY I COULD HAVE WITH THIS JOB WOULD BE IF SOME OF THOSE YOUNG FOLKS FELT THAT THEY COULD HAVE AT LEAST THE OPTION TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY THEY GREW UP IN AND HAVE A GOOD QUALITY JOB.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=have a good quality job]
This year he expects his Virginia Works initiative will help. He's proposed investing more than 20- million dollars to strengthen communities, help existing businesses grow and attract new ones. And while transportation was left on the side of the road during the '04 session, Warner now wants to invest more than 800- million dollars in improvements and new initiatives. [COVER FIRST PART OF BITE WITH TRAIN VIDEO]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:21:15]
[IN Q=We've gotta look at rail]
((MARK WARNER: WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AT RAIL. THE NOTION THAT WE'RE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE I-81 HAVE ENOUGH ASPHALT TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, PARTICULARLY FREIGHT NEEDS, JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AND RIGHT NOW VIRGINIA ONLY SPENDS ABOUT SIX- MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON RAIL.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=dollars a year on rail]
And what about his future. The next presidential election may be four years away, but you can already buy your "Warner for President" bumper sticker online.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:29:03]
[IN Q=Too often I think Virginia]
((MARK WARNER: TOO OFTEN I THINK VIRGINIA GOVERNORS IN THE PAST HAVE SPENT THEIR LAST YEAR THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO NEXT AS OPPOSED TO DOING THEIR JOB. IF I WANT TO HAVE A FUTURE IN POLITICS THE BEST THING I CAN DO FOR THAT FUTURE IS TO DO A GOOD JOB AS GOVERNOR.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=good job as governor]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer/FULL Newsroom]
Warner says he's not ruling anything out.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jennifer/Newsroom;]
And Shannon his last year promises to be interesting. The Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General are expected to vie for his job, while every seat in the House of Delegates is up for grabs.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Wall Street finished the shortened holiday week with a win. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/11.23/10827.12/x/3.59/2160.62;]

The DOW gained eleven points today.
The NASDAQ rose four.
[SUPER=271-i/0.16/41.74/i/0.16/60.83/i/0.34/34.89/i/0.10/46.70/i/0.03/42.41;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.11/17.35/h/0.01/6.50/i/0.24/67.76/i/0.07/36.77/h/0.13/14.78;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.02/39.08/i/0.15/17.03/h/0.03/36.04/h/0.07/5.71/h/0.33/21.90;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.67/74.35/i/0.16/40.75/i/0.01/52.74/i/0.42/52.55/i/0.31/114.20;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Hardy-Extension]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-43 TC1:13:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Residents at the Hardy Road Trailer Park in Bedford County will have more time to prepare for their eviction.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape]
Yesterday, DJ Cooper, the owner of the trailer park, notified residents that they'll be evicted on April 25th rather than the original deadline of February 12th. The residents are being forced out because Cooper has to shut down a sewage lagoon that is connected to their trailers.
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[Monty-Water]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Montgomery County has canceled its request that customers on the Price's Fork Water System conserve water.
The system was restored this morning.
In a news release, the county says the voluntary conservation, along with repairs to supply lines and additional water provided by Blacksburg and Christiansburg, has allowed the system to recover about a third of its full capacity.

[Route-220]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=04-42 TC1:21:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

A stretch of highway known for bad accidents may soon see some changes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]

VDOT has been studying ways to make Route 220, from Roanoke to the North Carolina border, safer.
It's ready to release its preliminary ideas, and will invite the public to take a look.
The agency will hold three information meetings in January, in Ridgeway, Rocky Mount and Roanoke County.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Coming up, Michael Vick's wallet gets a little fatter, UVA returns to the hardwood,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and we'll meet 6 year old Lucas Bolen, the Wahoos biggest fan in Buena Vista, who knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity.
(------------)

[S-Vick]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-173 TC15853]
[GRAPHIC=Vick]
[ENG#=1]

Michael Vick got an early Christmas present today. Vick has re-upped with the Falcons in a deal that makes him the highest paid player in the league.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]

Vick agreed to a new 10 year, 100 million dollar deal today with the team. The southpaw was chosen for his 2nd Pro Bowl yesterday. Vick is 14 and 4 since returning from a broken ankle last season.
(------------)

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=TRAVIS]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-175 12548tc]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL]
[ENG#=2]

The Virginia Tech players have all headed home for a few days to celebrate the Christmas Holiday. Celebrations have been virtually non-stop since the Hokies won the ACC in their first year in the conference. They won coach of the year and player of the year honors, as well to make one of the best first impressions of all-time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=YOU ALWAYS WANT TO PROVE...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/ACC Coach of the Year; :00]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=..RESUME FOR THE ACC."]
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=TRAVIS]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL]
The Hokies next practice will be on Wednesday, December 29th in New Orleans on the Tulane University campus.
[TAKE VIDEO]

[S-Leinart]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-184 TC14646]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]
[TAKE VIDEO!!]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]

In other football news, USC quarterback Matt Leinart has added the AP National Player of the Year Award to his Heisman Trophy. Leinart is the 5th straight quarterback to win the award, edging Oklahoma's Jason White, who he'll face in the Orange Bowl.
Also today, Dave Wannstedt accepted the head coaching job at the University of Pittsburgh. Wanstedt resigned as coach of the Dolphins following a 1 and 8 start this season. The Pitt grad succeeds Walt Harris, just a week after turning the Panthers down.
And Liberty head football coach Ken Karcher was given a five year contract extension. Karcher just wrapped up his 5th season in Lynchburg, leading the Flames to 6 wins in each of the past two seasons.
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[S-Hoops]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-186 TC2836]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]
[ENG#=4]

UVA returns to the court tonight after a 15 day layoff for final exams. Loyola Marymount visits University Hall for a 7-30 tip. And while these aren't the Lions of Paul Westhead, Hank Gathers, and Bo Kimble, the Cavs have plenty of respect for LMU, and for each other.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Elton Brown/UVA Center; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=chance to win a championship."]
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[ANCHOR=TRAVIS]
[GRAPHIC=RADFORD U.]

Radford hoop coach Byron Samuels has suspended senior Brandon Jeffers and junior Whit Holcomb-Faye for behavior detrimental to the team. The suspension will affect tonight's game at Colorado and possibly beyond.

[S-Lucas]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-180 TC20035]
[GRAPHIC=MPC Bowl]
[ENG#=1]

When the Virginia Cavaliers take on Fresno State Monday in the Micron PC Bowl in Boise, they'll have a huge cheering section in Buena Vista, led by 6 year old Lucas Bolen. It's just his way of giving back to a team that's already made his Christmas holiday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Bolen/Lucas's Mom; :20]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=Thank you..."]
((Nats:
At first glance, Lucas looks like a typical 6 year old boy. But at 19 months old, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and recently doctors detected a cyst, 3 centimeters in diameter on his brain, causing headaches and seizures.
Lisa:
During one of his many trips to Charlottesville for doctor's visits, Lucas had some surprise visitors in the form of several Cavaliers, including his favorite Wahoo, running back Walli Lundy. Lundy presented Lucas with an authentic game used jersey with his name on it. Lundy's first contact with the youngster came last season, when he learned of Bolen's story through Gerry Capone, the UVA Associate AD for football operations, and others in the football office.
Lisa:
Lucas attended the UVA-Maryland game this season in Charlottesville, and has received several notes and phone calls from Lundy, a mini-helmet with Lundy's signature, and a football signed by the entire Cavalier team.
Lisa:
And Lucas couldn't be more appreciative.
Lucas:))

[Pulaski-Shelter]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-47 TC50:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
More animals could soon be saved in Pulaski County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]
Construction on the new county Animal Shelter and Humane Education Center is moving forward. It's expected to open early next year and will house a spay and neuter clinic, puppy room, cat condo and an education room. Last year the county euthanized almost 15-hundred animals because the old shelter is too small. More than 4-thousand people have made donations to the new shelter, but the Humane Society still needs money to buy kennels and cages.
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[Pet-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-49 TC36:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
The holidays can be stressful for humans, and veterinarians say they can be trouble for pets too.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
While it's true the winter weather can be hard on an outdoor pet Doctor Sharon Coleman says table scraps cause most of the harm she sees on the holidays.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:25:53]
[IN Q=Most of the time]
((DR. SHARON COLEMAN:MOST OF THE TIME THE DOGS ARE FED THE MEAT, THE HAM, BONES, AND THE FAT AND THAN THOSE END UP AT THE VETERINARIAN FOR A CHECK UP DUE TO PROBLEMS FROM THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Sharon Coleman/North Roanoke Veterinary Hospital; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=problems from that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
There are steps owners can take to keep their pets safe. Don't feed your dog the post Christmas dinner table scraps. If it's below freezing outside bring your pet inside. Don't let your pet chew on holly, mistletoe, or pine needles. Keep your pets away from electrical cords. And don't think that stress only affects you on the holidays.
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