Are Pesticides Safe For Dogs and Humans?

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Recently I received notification from our management company contracted by our HOA, that they would be permitting the landscape company to spray our lawn with fertilizers and pesticides.  I sent them an email stating that I did not like their ridiculous method of placing little blue flags on our front lawn if we did not wish these toxins to be sprayed on our property. This system does not work if you are not at home on the dates of lawn maintenance, which always changes. We live in a lock and leave community.

I am highly sensitive to poisons because my husband was poisoned with Agent Orange in Vietnam when he served in the war.  I accidentally poisoned my little poodle with a flea spray and my dog died.  I felt terribly guilty and sued the manufacturer, and won.  The product was removed from the market.  Two years ago, I was poisoned by drinking toxic water from the sprinkler system that was negligently connected to our kitchen faucet by an incompetent builder. I was in the ER twice with sepsis and lead poisoning and my medical bills were in the thousands of dollars.  I contacted an attorney.

As is understandable, I am supersensitive to toxins and therefore out of caution for my family's health, do not want fertilizers or pesticides anywhere near our lawn.  Texas law prohibits the use of Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, and other chemicals.  An owner of a landscape company spraying pesticides must obtain a "commercial pesticide applicator license," from the Department of Agriculture.

A frivolous notice of "keep your dogs off the grass for 24 hours," until the chemical dries will not absolve the perpetrator from liability. In some instances, toxicity can occur even after 48 hours.  A 2013 study examining the levels of lawn pesticides in the urine of dogs found that herbicides persisted on lawn surfaces for at least 48 hours after spraying.

Symptoms of insecticide poisoning in dogs typically occur within a few minutes of exposure, but they can be delayed up to a few hours.  These clinical signs include excessive drooling, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Humans experience the same pesticide exposure as our furry friends.

Don't just put up a sign on your lawn prohibiting spraying as some of these workers do not understand English.  Instead, write a letter to the owner of the landscape company warning him that he will be liable if your dog gets sick.

—Alinka Zyrmont