"Any decent veterinarian will explain to you how Scotts 4-step program,

especially "Step 2" is believed to be extremely bad for pets. "

You mean like this vet from the Univ of Illinois, College of Veterinary
Medicince? Here's what he has to say:


"However, for pet owners who want to spruce up their yards and prefer
to use lawn care
products, reading the label and using the products properly is the key
to keeping pets safe.
According to Dr. Petra Volmer, veterinarian and toxicologist at the
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, problems usually arise only
when people apply
lawn care products incorrectly or when a pet is accidentally sprayed or
allowed on a freshly
sprayed lawn too soon.

Most lawn care products fall into three categories: fertilizers,
insecticides, and herbicides. "If
you use these products correctly and read the label, most really do not
cause a problem,"
says Dr. Volmer. "In general, most residential-use products have low
toxicity."


Or how about this from the good old ASPCA:

"4.What about pesticides and fertilizers that might be in the garage or
tool shed?

Make sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with
fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until the time listed on the
label by the manufacturer. If you are uncertain about the usage of any
product, contact the manufacturer for clarification before using it.
Always store pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides in areas that are
inaccessible to your pets.

The most serious problems resulting from fertilizer ingestion in pets
is usually due to the presence of heavy metals such as iron. Ingestion
of large amounts of fertilizer could cause severe gastric upset and
possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

The most dangerous forms of pesticides include: snail bait containing
metaldehyde, fly bait containing methomyl, systemic insecticides
containing disyston or disulfaton, zinc phosphide containing mole or
gopher bait and most forms of rat poisons. When using pesticides place
the products in areas that are totally inaccessible to your companion
animals. Always store pesticides in secured areas."


Seems neither the veterinarian from the Univ of Illinois vet school,
nor the ASPCA think typical lawn products are "extremely bad" for your
pet. Now don't get me wrong. I try to limit how much
herbicide/pesticide I use for a number of reasons. And I make sure to
follow the label directions and keep pets off it for a reasonable
amount of time after application to minimize exposure. I exceed the
recommended minimum times to stay off. That makes sense. Alarmists
who think anyone who applies any chemical to a lawn is a "thug", in my
view, are just as whacko as people who use these products needlessly.