Residents and Business Owners of Wilmington Island Hold Mosquito Spray Responsible for Pet Deaths

WILMINGTON ISLAND, Ga. () – Five pet deaths in the past year, three in the past month, are raising eyebrows for Wilmington Island residents and animal business owners.

They said the common factor in the deaths are cancerous diseases seemingly triggered after a Chatham County-owned aircraft sprays mosquito-controlling substance over the island.

Leora Smith recently lost her family dog, a German Shepherd, in mid-September, and after speaking with neighbors, friends, and those who live on neighboring islands, she realized she was not alone in her loss.

“She was an indoor dog, there was no reason for her die,” said Smith, “I’m a realist, and cancers in German Shepherds are prevalent, but five in one street of 25 houses that makes me wonder.”

She hosted over a dozen Island animal business owners, neighbors and others affected in her home Monday in the form of a roundtable.

There, attendees spoke to each other and about their experiences and brainstormed solutions.

“Losing our family dog, who was in perfect and healthy and condition, was a really big eye opener, especially after the chain of events,” said Camryn Grantland, who babysits dogs and said her clients have also lost pets in a similar fashion.

She continued, “Especially with the timeline, we able to figure this all out and really narrow it down to this being the common factor between everybody.”

Grantland lost her dog in mid-September along with three families. The dates of deaths are Sept. 9, 10 and 13.

Multiple neighbors confirm the islands communities were sprayed by the Chatham County aircraft Sept. 1.

Though all of the animals discussed Monday died similar deaths shortly after a spray, their veterinarians did not confirm if the deaths were directly caused by the spray.

Katy Nussbaum’s dog was the most recent to pass, also perfectly healthy until the month of September according to her.

“Even if it has nothing to with that, and they all just died of this crazy thing, it has opened our eyes to the fact this mosquito spray is poisoning us and poisoning our animals,” said Nussbaum.

As online and neighborhood chatter has increased in the past few days, movement organizers said they have identified over 100 cases in and around Wilmington Island involving pet owners and those who own grooming and pet sitting businesses.

“One hundred plus animals on Wilmington Island, Whitmarsh Island, Tybee Island, all experiencing similar deaths,” said Grantland.

Christy Graham who owns a pet sitting service said, “People have to have questions, I know they do and it not just pets. People have also told me the island has lost frogs and fireflies too. We don’t see them anymore.”

The group said they have tried to get the attention of local leaders to no avail.

However, in less than a day, Smith created a petition and that has garnered nearly 700 signatures to present to present to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The goal is 1,000.

The petition calls on leaders to change the method and type of mosquito control.

Currently, Chatham County Mosquito Control uses naled in an emulsifiable form, which is marketed as under the named-brand Trumpet.

Four helicopters spray the substance over the county.

has reached out to Chatham County and has asked about the contents of the mosquito spray and if it has been proven to be deadly to animals.