When Our Dog Was Poisoned, We Discovered the Toxic Truth About Pesticides

In November 2020, I purchased my first home in the vibrant community of Summerlin, Las Vegas. It was a time of new beginnings and hope for the future. However, just a year later, my beloved Rottweiler, Mowgli, began experiencing unexplained neurological episodes – seizures, muscle loss, and severe hind leg weakness. These symptoms sparked a deep concern, leading me to connect with my neighbors through the Nextdoor app. To my shock, I discovered that many other families were witnessing similar, unexplained health issues in their pets – ranging from seizures to rapid weight loss and muscle wasting.

The pieces started to come together when I noticed landscapers within our HOA using chemicals near my backyard. Suspecting pesticide drift, I reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prompting the Nevada Department of Agriculture to conduct soil testing in June 2022. The results were staggering – 1,516.4 parts per million (ppm) of glyphosate, a level the EPA considers significantly above the safe threshold of 700 ppm for direct exposure. Despite my repeated efforts to get clear answers, I received no meaningful guidance from either agency, leaving me and my community in a painful limbo until an independent lab in Colorado confirmed the dangers in October 2023.

In the midst of this ongoing battle, I welcomed my son into the world in June 2023, following an emergency C-section at just 33 weeks gestation after my water spontaneously ruptured. This experience has only deepened my commitment to uncovering the full impact of this exposure, not just for my family, but for all families facing similar threats from urban pesticide use.

Thank you for visiting my website. My mission is to raise awareness, demand accountability, and protect our communities from harmful environmental practices. Together, we can advocate for safer, healthier futures for our children, pets, and the ecosystems we all depend on.