Ian,
This has gotten way OT on a topic that was already OT. But hopefully it is information the the GCA clan is interested in seeing. Like many folks on GCA it is sometimes hard to let something I believe in die quietly. Winters are long in ND. So I will just add a few points and hopefully we can move on. No need for red letters today.
The reason I responded aggressively to your original post is, you state that a U.S. golf course is no place for pets or small children due to chemical use. I think that is painting with pretty broad strokes and certainly not true or in the interest of golf industry that I am part of. I have a professional obligation to try and educate. I as a greenkeeper personally have the most to lose if I endanger the public or needlessly pollute the environment with unnescessary or misapplied chemicals. If I thought something I doing was making dogs or animals sick, I wouldn't be doing it. I also have an obligation to be resourcful and maintain turf with the minimum number of inputs, and I take it seriously.
In ND and CO where I have worked chemical use is not widespread. I would guess that it is significantly more in the Chicago area, especially at higher end country clubs. You probably see the guys in the suits with respirators frequently. That is required by law, and as applicators their exposure level risk is much greater than the general public.
In CO the dry climate means most guys probably don't spray insecticides and get by with just 1 or 2 fungicide application on their greens going into Winter. So far in ND, that is more or less my opinion on how I will proceed. All of the chemicals that we spray, I would classify as safe. I would never condone taking your dog for a walk on the grass right after an application. Common sense and alot of scientific research also tells me that the miniscule levels of product that are being applied especially if proper application techniques are used pose little to no risk to my employees(my first concern) or golfers. I would also agree that transdermal, or ingestion exposure by pets on treated turf is probably higher than that of a golfer(they don't wear shoes and they clean themselves with their tongues). I would definetley get sick if that was my hygiene routine
.
That being said, there is one person on you course that can tell you what and when things are being sprayed. As a member of the greens commitee you probably know him. He could also probably guide you as to when good times to bring fido out might be. I'm fairly certain this person wii go on the record and say small children are safe on the course. And even I wouldn't recommend feeding grass to babies.
Now a little more tongue in cheek. Thank you for posting the info on your DVM's credentials. Here's Mine
http://www.chrisstrange.pro (If you go to gallery-photos of interest-and scroll down you can see my old goldens)(My wife had to put Riley the grey face down when I was playing MPCC Shore and she couldn't get ahold of me, tragic memory of a great golf course.) As a rule of thumb I don't argue with doctors, they definitely function at a higher level than me. It is all anecdotal but I will say that my pets have been to the doctor more times in their short lives than my entire family combined. Not once has it ever been suggested that dogs are allergic to grass, and believe me the vets know where I work. The topic of my work is usually followed by "Can you get me on?" I don't really want to touch this one but it's definetley not something that will be keeping me up at night. Please don't tell my dogs that they're allergic to chicken, they will be pissed.
Just for reference I am also posting the MSDS for a broad spectrum of products that I have applied on the golf course in the past. These sheets are legally required to be on hand at the maintenance facility and contain lots of pertinent information on the health risks of each product. Most will list if a product or an active ingredient is a known carcinogen. I was suprised to see a few of the most common products listed as carcinogens. Usually a rats vs humans issue. Dogs I can't be sure.
Maybe you are right
. There are different ratings from different scientific organizations. Interpret the data and do more research if you like.
Trimec-2,4,D-Broadleaf Weed Control
http://www.cdms.net/LDat/mp2PP001.pdfMerit-Insecticide
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Departments/Agricultural_Commissioner/PDF/mp884001.pdfChlorothalonil-Fungicide for Dollar Spot
http://fs1.agrian.com/pdfs/Chlorothalonil_720_SFT_MSDS2.pdfHeritage-Broad Spectrum Fungicide
http://www.cdms.net/LDat/mp61T029.pdfPrimo-Growth Regulator
http://www.spsonline.com/sps/sites/default/files/imagefield_thumbs/PRIMO%20MAXX_MSDS.pdfI would add that risk usually has more to do with exposure than the actual product. Gasoline is a great example. It is nasty stuff if you drink it or inhale it but you get within inches of it everyday without thinking twice, and it is more toxic than most golf course chemicals. Another great example is aspirin. If I said I was going to go spray the course with aspirin would you worry. Why not?, it's more dangerous on an LD50 than most plant protectants. Dog's probably have a greater exposure risk.
And to end on a GCA friendly note. Concrete cart paths are really hard on a dogs pads. If you ever run them behind a cart make sure to not overrun them. They learn after a while but every pup I've ever had has torn themselves up the first couple times out. Just one more reason to do away with them.
Cheers,
I've got a few pheasant on the course but my dogs are oblivious.
Chris