Mulch attention for Dogs and Cats

ATTENTION DOG OWNERS & FRIENDS OF DOG OWNERS

This isn't typically mulching season, but you may be thinking about putting some down now.
This is something that most of us probably would never think about,
But if you have a pet, it is worth reading this and paying attention.

The Snope web page that this article refers to is here: http://www.snopes. Com/critters/ crusader/ cocoamulch. Asp

PLEASE READ TO BOTTOM. Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased *Cocoa Mulch* from Target to use in their garden.
They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden.

Their dog Calypso decided that 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.'

This www.Snopes.com site gives the following information: as does www.urbanledgends. Com

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 like chocolate and it really attracts dogs.

They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution, check
What you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

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 sto mach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of
Theobromine.

*PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION! !! *