Keeping Your Pets Safe

Pets, are particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposure because, like children, they are likely to ingest more contaminants (e.g. a dog grabbing a ball that has rolled across a recently sprayed lawn), they are nearer to the ground, and they cannot read signs and warnings. Pets are especially susceptible to pesticides in pellet form because they look like food.

Over the years, studies have also suggested that pesticides specifically designed for pets, like flea collars and shampoos, may be harmful, not only to pets, but also to their human companions.

The links below give more detail on the potential threats to pets and how to avoid them.

• Sierra Club: Is Your Pet Safe from Pesticides? (pdf)
• Humane Society of Canada: Reduce Chemical Use
• Humane Society of the United States: What You Should Know About Flea and Tick Products
• NRDC: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products