One thing that has always bugged the heck out of me is the use of these lawn spray companies/products. First they try to tell you no problema they're safe but let me put this sign on your lawn telling you to stay off the grass for 24 hours. My place is surrounded by neighbors that use Chemlawn and various other applicators. I refused they hate me cause of my dandelions but I feel its a lot healthier. I still feel it contributed to Mylo's cancer bouts not once but TWICE.

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/the-lawn-habit-thats-killing-your-dog?g

A lush lawn creates a sense of pride for many American homeowners, but a new study finds that utilizing a chemical lawn service to achieve those results is likely causing malignant cancer in many pet dogs.

In the study, researchers identified 263 dogs with biopsy-confirmed canine malignant lymphoma (CML), 240 dogs with benign tumors, and 230 dogs undergoing surgeries unrelated to cancer. Then, they asked the pet owners to complete a 10-page questionnaire. Scientists found that dogs with malignant lymphoma were 70 percent more likely to live in a home where professionally applied lawn pesticides had been used. Dogs with the serious malignancy were also 170 percent more likely to come from homes where owners used chemical insecticides to combat pests inside of the home.

Interestingly, this study found that use of flea and tick control products did not appear to cause an increased risk of canine lymphoma.

Humans should take this study as a warning, too. The methods researchers used to determine risk in the dog study are part of a trusted model for assessing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk in humans. Other studies have linked lawn chemicals to melanoma and childhood leukemia.

im kind of glad we don't have grass in the back yard because i would hate to have to use all the weed block stuff and all out there with the dogs, i do all the lawn care and would never hire a place to spray shit on the grass, only one person in our circle uses one. and there lawn looks like poo

My city recently stopped using pesticides and weed killers for city maintained lands/waters and this is another reason I'm glad! We only have cement blocks in the backyard at my house and have always just weeded by hand. This is perfect encouragement to continue that way.

I'm so glad I don't use that stuff. I wish we had grass in the backyard, but because of the dogs I would never use a chemical to keep it...

jbealer wrote:

i do all the lawn care and would never hire a place to spray shit on the grass, only one person in our circle uses one. and there lawn looks like poo

LOL!!!

Thanks for the info on the study, Len. I agree with you, I'd rather have a few dandelions than use chemicals on the lawn. (Mind you the lawn is mostly moss atm).

Oh good!! Now I can happily justify my weed-filled "lawn"!

Just kidding... I've never had a self-image problem and have always just proudly mowed my weeds!

Seriously, thanks for passing along this information, Len. It seems there is always something new that is being reported as "bad" for you. I think most of us know deep down how bad many of these chemicals are for us, yet the lure is always there. Thanks again!

That's why we use natural products on our lawn. They may not work as well as the synthetic products but they work well enough without putting our dogs and now our child at risk.