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Pesticides are bad, um 'kay. Not only are they harmful to your family, but they are also terrible for your pets. You probably know this and don't use pesticides. You've fostered an eco-friendly lawn and garden. But what about those neighbors? The ones with the HumVee, the jet ski and other cliched non-green vehicle? What about them? How can you keep your cat and dog safe from their pesticides?
NorthWest K9 has some advice for us that I think might help.
- Go door to door and ask your neighbors how often they plan to apply pesticides. In rural areas, your county may spray the roadside with pesticides or deploy pesticides via crop duster. You may be able to convince the county to steer clear of your property.
- It is your legal right to be notified about pesticides in your neighborhood.
Northwest K9:Inform your neighbors and their spraying service in writing that you have animals on your property. Request that you must be informed 48 hours before any spraying or application is commenced to adequately protect your animals. While you likely do not have the right to prohibit adjacent property owners from legal applications of pesticides/herbicides, you do have the legal right to adequate notice and protective measures as outlined in the official federal label for each product. The "label" is the federally-mandated information sheet about each pesticide that details its manufacturer, ingredients, toxicity, warnings, legal uses, and treatments in case of exposure. Additional local laws and regulations may also apply.
- Federal law states that the sprayer of pesticides must have the pesticide label on them at all times. Ask to see the label.
- Keep your pets away from exposure for label-recommended time period.
- Be demanding. Demand that your neighbors and their spraying company follow the safety guidelines to the letter. Demand that your receive 48 hours notice. Check your local and state laws to see what other demands you have the right to make.
- If your pet is exposed to pesticide, check the pesticide label for treatment guidelines and call a vet or The Animal Poison Control Center.
It is important to know the type of pesticide because the treatment that cures one type of poison will aggravate another type of poison. - Report the incident.
Report the incident to your regional Department of Agriculture/Pesticide Spraying Department. Request that an investigator come to your property to thoroughly investigate the incident, and to conduct tests to determine the presence of toxic chemicals on your property. Request a copy of their report for your reference if future action against the sprayer is warranted.
Report the incident to all local, regional, and state agencies in your area with jurisdiction over environmental issues and/or the use of pesticides and hazardous materials.
For more info check out Northwest K9.
More on Green Pets:
Groom Your Dog for Better Health
How to Install a Solar-Powered Fan in a Dog House
Donate Old Newspapers to Help Animals
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