ChemLawn: Ironic for new name and for featuring dogs, given link to canine lymphoma
If you are trying to protect yourself or your family from pesticides, it can be very frustrating when neighbors hire ChemLawn (ironically named TruGreen now), Green Drop, Green T, Scotts, or one of many different lawn chemical applicators. But you can at least get enough notification to close your windows, bring in your laundry, and keep your children and pets inside for the day.
Here is the protection offered homeowners:
(d) Prior notification of application to lawn. In the case of all lawns other than golf courses:
(1) Any neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property of a customer of an applicator for hire may receive prior notification of an application by contacting the applicator for hire and providing his name, address and telephone number.
(2) At least the day before a scheduled application, an applicator for hire shall provide notification to a person who has requested notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), such notification to be made in writing, in person or by telephone, disclosing the date and approximate time of day of application.
(3) In the event that an applicator for hire is unable to provide prior notification to a neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property because of the absence or inaccessibility of the individual, at the time of application to a customer’s lawn, the applicator for hire shall leave a written notice at the residence of the person requesting notification, which shall provide the information specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).
You can read the law in its entirety at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1597&ChapterID=36
If your neighbors apply chemicals themselves, I encourage you to have a conversation with them and ask them to notify you if they intend to apply chemicals. Share information. They may never have thought about the health effects and may benefit from your resources. After all, who would think such a commonly available product could be lethal, both in the long and short term?
PoisoningOurChildren 
April 11th 2018 Tru Green came and sprayed my lawn. I did not order this service. I did not consent to this. I was not home when it happened. They left a receipt on my front door.
The kids found the reciept after school and put it on the counter. Not knowing what it was the continued with their routine of letting our dog out. I found the reciept when I came home from work. I immediately called because I have never used chemicals and the dog had gone out. They told me it was fine after 30 min. So I took their word for it.
In June my dog started showing signs of illness. I noticed he was losing a lot of weight. I got him to the vet and she took one look at him and said he has lymphoma he has 3 months to live. I had her do a lymes test which came back negative. She explained to me that there is treatment but it would not prolong his life enough and that I should focus on the quality at this point
She prescribed me prednisone.
I went home in shock not expecting this at all. How did my perfectly healthy 95 pound dog turn into a 75 pound sick boy this quickly. I didnt know what to do or what to think
I started doing my own research. And then it started popping up on everything. LAWN CHEMICALS. LYMPHOMA.
Then it hit me. I started to connect the dots. Trugreen came in April sprayed! Now my dog is sick and dieing.
I tried talking with the vet. She didnt want anything to do with it. Her response was. “I dont know. The other vet says there has been some study’s linking it”
Then I tried to get a refill of his prednisone and they lost his file.
Time went by so fast. I didnt know what to do. I didn’t have money to go from vet to vet. My poor boy was losing his battle. He began not being able to eat due to swelling. He was skin and bones. I knew I was going to have to make the decision and help him cross that rainbow bridge and end his suffering. It broke my heart.
Before that could happen. He lost his battle at home at about 2am on Aug. 25th 2018. He passed in the comfort of his home with his family. I miss him so much every day. I wish there was more that I could have done. But lack of knowledge of all this didnt help.
I have spoken with trugreen several times. They insist their product is safe. They have even gone as far as telling me they “would be happy to ingest it”
No I dont have anyone backing me. As far as vets. They dont want to be involved. All I have is my story. I will continue to tell it so that maybe it can save someone else’s pet or even themselves. These chemcials are deadly.
Amy–
I’ve been meaning to get back to you on this, and now it’s Spring Break, so I can. I can easily get you the research that links lawn chemicals to canine lymphoma. I have it in my files. I could either write a blog on it or send you the links. Would you mind if I shared your post and then replied to it with the research? I wonder if you might have a lawsuit here — that would doubtless be a challenge, but you might want to contact a lawyer and see if someone would take it on contingency. It certainly seems like assault with a deadly weapon to me.
So sorry for your loss!
Jean-Marie