IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ...LETHAL MULCH!

[Ann]

I received this email from my friend and I thought I would pass this on to everyone.

Even if you don't personally have a pet PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO SOMEONE WHO DOES.



Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.
Over the weekend, the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting

lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's website,

This product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that "It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it."
*Snopes site gives the following information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells li ke chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

[Kathy Spyker]

Good to know!! Thanks.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Holy cow - who would know. Thanks for the warning.

[BetteB]

Thanks for sharing. I sent it on to our doggie friends not on DK.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks for the reminder....

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Ann Kendig]

I had enough problems with Sheba trying to eat rocks and mulch last year. It's a good thing I don't have this stuff!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I got this one tonight, too. Looks like it's making the rounds again on the internet.
We have several discussions about cocoa mulch here, but I'm sure a reminder is a good idea for new members.
I wonder if this is an old story that's being recirculated again now with gardening season approaching. You'd think they would have taken this stuff off the market by now. It can't be a very big seller anyway...who wants a yard that smells like a bakery and attracts wildlife?

[F, Calla & Luca]

This and other dangerous things/situations are listed in the Danger Group. Thanks for the reminder.