Dear Editor,
This is in response to the editorial “Perchlorate lawsuits way out of line.”
I have lived in San Martin for the past 27 years. We purchased this home already owning one horse and proceeded to acquire a mare and conduct a small Arabian horse breeding operation. Over a period of seven years we produced a foal each year. Several of the horses that were born and raised on this property have developed founder, a very serious hoof condition. I have over the time span of the last four years, lost three horses to founder – all of them born and raised on this property and drinking well water. It is a known scientific fact that there can be several contributing factors to founder; however, one of the contributing factors is hypothyroidism.
After the death of our first horse, our veterinarian, Dr. Bill Seals, conducted thyroid tests on all the remaining horses. All five horses tested showed they had hypothyroidism. They were immediately put on thyroid medication and will remain on such the rest of their lives. We first considered that maybe this condition was hereditary, even though the mare was normal and lived to be 34 years old. One horse that was not related to the rest also needed thyroid medication. He had lived on this property for 25 years. Is it coincidence that every horse living on our property has thyroid problems would ALL need medication?
My conclusion is that continuous amounts of EVEN LOW LEVELS of perchlorate will cause severe health problems. At this time there seems to be no research conducted regarding the livestock living in this plume of perchlorate. So far, the tests for humans are inconclusive and the government is willing to legally allow low levels to be ingested. The editorial states that the perchlorate lawsuits are way out of line – I would like to know what value I can put on the loss of three valuable horses. No amount of money can repay me for the emotional distress of dealing with their illness. We desperately tried to bring all three through – wrapping, constant medication, specialized farrier services and a veterinarian bill exceeding $15,000.
My claim is not based on hysteria or greed, and I am insulted that your editorial states such. I have lived through the loss of three valuable animals that were worth at least $5,000 to $10,000 each.
Olin’s efforts to lower the contamination at the original site do nothing for the damages already incurred. Your last paragraph, “The jury has a right, nay, a duty, to infuse a little justice and a little common sense into this suit … We hope they will do so,” I believe comes from a writer who has not incurred any damages from this perchlorate contamination and is totally clueless regarding the damages that San Martin property owners have dealt with and are currently dealing with, and will most definitely deal with in the future.
Joan Shuyler, San Martin
