Meredith,
We always give our dog table scraps and I am writing to tell you what a sad story. How sad that Jasper got sick from the steak. I do have to say though you ought to apologize to Richard when he knew what you are doing was wrong. I have learned from my mistakes and my husband telling me that I have to apologize when he was right-which is very few times. You are a great person and hope to one day meet you in person. You seem to have such a fun and happy family. Hope you have a great day!

You never stop making me laugh...thank you!!

Dear Meridith,

I have always enjoyed you on The View (I don't watch it much but I love you on it.) I just finished reading your husband's Blindsided and wanted to email you. I've been sick a long time with some kind of neuropathy and have been despairing lately. I was so uplifted by his book and remember all your wonderful work on West 57th st. I wanted to write and thank you both for giving me some hope on a bad day.

I am the "softie" too that wants to give our dog treats. I have had to apologize more times than I care to remember but I also fall for beautiful eyes looking up at me as I eat dinner. You can know you are definitely not alone.

Meredith

We adopted our first dog, Carra, when she was seven years old. To paraphrase the old saying, "You can't break a old dog of bad habits!" Carra's former owners must have fed her table scraps because she was an awful beggar and food stealer. No plate was safe. My "favorite" anecdote concerns her and a bag of dinner rolls. I walked into our dining room to see her on the formal dining table finishing off a bag of dinner rolls! She ate about 24 dinner rolls. You could have heard me in the city as I yelled at that dog. I do miss that old yellow lab!

Who sends the car?
NBC or do you call for it?
just wondering.

Oh Meredith have I got a story for you! When my parents moved into their new house a couple years ago, we all decided to grill some very delicious steaks for dinner. No furniture was moved in, so we ate on patio furniture. Well, both dogs (large golden retrievers) got a hold of them, ate them ALL and we had no dinner. We went to sleep, and at 6AM my mom woke up and screamed (un-like you're calm reaction) at the sight of about 23 piles of dog diarreah in various places around the house! We can't help but laugh about it now...and be thankful that the furniture hadn't arrived yet!

Hi Meredith,
Poor Jasper but I know what you mean, it is very hard to say no and then they suffer because of it. Think about how you suffered too, having to clean up that mess and then knowing that Jasper must have felt like crap, it isn't worth it and Richard was right but at the time who cares because Jasper wanted that meat. I don't know how you hold yourself together at times like this and then not to have called for a car to pick you up, by then I would be up chucking.
No more meat from the table for Jasper, I would have a doggy treat handy at times like this and that way it would save you from having to clean up those nasty messes.
Hope you have a better morning tomorrow.
Love ya, Meredith
Joan K.
Wisconsin

Poor Jasper!

Meredith,

My dogs do about as well with anything other than thier food, but the cats are the strange beings that lie in wait to pounce on the dogs food dishes? They haven't started barking yet though!

Blessings,
Linda

Hey Meredith - certainly wasn't your or Jasper's day. It's great to see you have such a great sense of humor about it though!!

We have a German Shepherd and frequently give her our meat scraps. We also had steak for dinner last night so I just had to go check on her after reading this. I knew you aren't supposed to give a dog chocolate or onions...but not cooked meat. Question....do you know why cooked meat makes dogs sick?

Hello Meredith,
I recieved a autographed photo of you today. I am very happy and thank you very much.
I am also relieved that that autographed photo was not your newest Milionaire Promo shot. (Those leafy hands) Thanks Very Much

Gosh, I'm wondering if you thought you might have been fired when the car didn't show up? I once heard an interview with Martha Quinn (one of the original VJ's on MTV) where she said she didn't know she was fired until the day the car service didn't show up to take her to the studio.

You should meet Grace the damnation (dalmation)at Christmas. Every year it's a question of what she's gonna get into. 1yr - entire wheel of brie cheese (distended belly and gassy). Next year - full loaf pumpkin bread. Next year - entire triple chocolate torte (had to give her ipecac, so you can imagine). Following year - asparagus ham rollups with toothpicks. Need I go on?

And thank you for starting my days of with a smile

Poor Jasper. Hope he feels better tomorrow. Can't wait to see your stint on 30 Rock, Meredith :)

We had a beagle many years ago. One night we had spaghetti and meatballs and there were leftovers, so I fed them to the dog. Like you, many hours later I discovered the error of my ways, all over the house. Some lessons are learned the hard way.

Who was the designer for 2 Oct sweater and slacks you wore?

Hi Meredith: This is not in response to your recent blog, but a news item on the program this morning about PDF at schools. I am an 8th grade teacher. We have a policy deterring PDF and rightly so. Apparently you have not tried to get through a hallway in a Jr. or SR High without seeing 'extreme' body contact, grinding of two students against a locker, passionate kisses, etc.. Students constantly complain about PDF to teachers and administrators themselves. It is embarrassing to see, watch, etc. It is also exploitation of one or the other of the partners. It is not rediculous to have some rules pertaining to PDF. It is necessary.

Meredith,
I feel your pain with the mess, however I would have reacted much differently under these circumstances, and have done just that. As the proud owner of an Irish Setter, whose nose and stomach controls her every thought, I can identify with the begging, stealing, ripping apart anything that might have food in it, cleaning off the counters, etc. You just can't trust this breed when it comes to food! I've had cinnamon rolls taken from the far depths of the counter (without touching anything in front of them), bread dough cleaned out of the bowl as it was rising, the trash scattered about the house when we were gone (and by the way there was a baby latch on the trash cabinet door holding it shut!), and finally the last straw - an entire bag of cat food eaten, which made her violently ill, ruined the carpet and almost killed her. She is now kenneled while we are away, and as tough as it is to say no, ABSOLUTELY NO TABLE FOOD!
See you on the show in the morning.
Julie K.
Illinois

I agree that you owe Richard an apology, Meredith...for ignoring his warning and for allowing his daughter to do the same. Who makes the grocery list and does the grocery shopping at your house? Sounds like you need to go to Costco for your paper towels. Sorry to hear you had to drive yourself to work.

I love the show and wake to it every morning. You are so real and so honest and yet there is such hypocracy. For instance, you talk about Brittany, have all these experts, and ignore the fact that it IS the PRESS that has destroyed so many lives. Even this morning you gave her far too much coverage. There are too many reporters looking for fame, and far too many news shows making mountains out of molehills.

i have 3 dogs and a glass kitchen table. i regret everytime i feed them leftovers because with all the tile floor in our house they always manage to find the carpet.

Well, that's rough. But I can beat that one. I had a cat that got into something once, and upchucked from the top of the refridgerator directly into the toaster. What a charmer.

The hard part was debating to let my now ex know about it prior to his toasting his English muffin.

My conscience won out - I told him and pitched the toaster.

On one of my rare domestic diva days I baked a banana bread from scratch, nuts and all. My Best Dog Soul Mate Bubba ate the entire thing! I had a very constipated dog and a family that came in the door smelling the incredible banana bread and finding out they weren't getting any..God, I loved that dog!!!

Dogs can eat red meat just like we can - but if your dog is not used to it -- several things can cause this reaction.

A) An allergic reaction to beef

B) He was so excited, he didn't chew it -- and swallowed it all whole

C) Something else was in his stomach and caused the beef to come up

D). He doesn't get enough of beef to develop bacteria to properly digest it.

I give my dog pork, chicken and fish -- but when I give her beef as a treat, it doesn't agree with her. She gets problems on the other end.

I feed my dogs human quality food. It's much better for them. If you haven't heard of Dr. Pitcairn's book Natural Health for Dogs and Cats -- it is a MUST READ. They sell it on Amazon.

I hope you are ALL (both) better now :)

Hello Meredith Vieira,
You are the Best on The Today Show!

who do we contact if we have a story idea? National Drowsy Driving Awareness Week is coming up (it's in November) and it'd be great to see some stories on that to remind people of the risks!

In addition, I wonder why, with so many health topics discussed, endometriosis hasn't been brought up. Approx. 5 million women suffer from this chronic illness without any cure and without many treatment options.

Thanks!

Meredith,
Love your honesty when sharing with your public. I've thought you were awesome since day one on the view. My fondest Meredith moment has to do with our family being huge Detroit Tiger fans. (poor Tigs) but GO YANKEES. You were dressed up as a HOT DOG for opening day of baseball. (Starr was a Boston Bean too wasn't she? Love your Spirit woman.

Sorry to Richard? Doubt if that is really necessary, due to the fact, you were the one who had to clean up the many messes caused by your love of those beautiful eyes.

I would imagine Richard was chuckling in the background if He's up that early.
Have a great day Meredith and take time to enjoy the VIEW!!

"Ridiculous"...that's what you called the decision of some school systems to ban the excessive hugging causing traffic jams in halls and making kids late to class. In some cases, the activity is escalating beyond hugging...reflecting the simulated sex seen on music videos.
The jobs of teachers and principals are getting more difficult. With their responsibilities increasing, they need all the support they can get.
Have you ever given any thought to how it would be to walk in the shoes of teachers and principals all day long, day after day.....not a 5 minute set up segment for TV with safety nets galore...but a sink or swim experience?
After wearing themselves out doing everything they can for the benefit of kids, teachers and principals don't appreciate hearing a national TV anchor calling their decisions "ridiculous".

Hello Meredith, I wanted to wish you a Happy Anniversary as you complete one year on the Today Show. We wak up every morning to Today and have for many years. It's the very best AM TV show. We wouldn't think of waking up any other way. You have had a terrific year, so congratulations and Happy Anniversary.
Sue & Bob M. Springfield, MA

I miss my dogs, but I have a wonderful cat, Shadow, who gets violently sick if I change his diet in the least. We do however give him turkey, at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and whatever we are having special for the other holidays, and he doesn't get sick! Go figure.

I have a mininature dashound and she can't eat anything from our table. She will up chuck it every time. I have learned to stick to her diet. Which is her dog food, scrambled egg and boiled chicken. No added fat, salt or pepper. That is all she gets.