Attention all cat and dog owners! Warning: Do not use “Cocoa Mulch” if you own pets!
I just received an urgent email from a friend yesterday regarding the death of her neighbor's young lab after ingesting “Cocoa Mulch” which was used in their garden!
The dog evidently liked the way that it smelled and swallowed a huge helping of the mulch. The dog then vomited a few times after eating the mulch, but this is typical of dogs when they eat something new. However, the next morning the dog died instantly of a seizure while halfway through her morning walk.
According to consumers of this product, it has no warning label alerting pet owners of the high probability of pets dying if this mulch is ingested. Yet, studies have proven that is highly toxic to dogs and cats.
Ironically, Hershey's, the chocolate company, manufactures the mulch. They claim that while their mulch is harmful to dogs and cats, the majority of dogs and cats will not want to eat it. They don't tell consumers that if a dog or cat does eat the mulch they will certainly die though.
Cocoa Mulch is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and many other garden supply stores. It contains a deadly ingredient called “Theobromine” that is lethal to dogs and cats. Although dogs and cats will rarely ingest the mulch, if they do they will die according to statistics.
Why is this product even allowed to be on the market? Why is it on the market without a warning label that specifically states the dangers of using it around pets?
Several pet deaths have occurred within the last few weeks to heartbroken and doting owners. What owner can imagine losing a beloved pet in this way?
Baker's and dark chocolate both have the ingredient “theobromine” ingredient in them and these chocolates are toxic to dogs because of this ingredient. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine. Theobromine is a xanthine compound which has similar effects to theophylline and caffeine.
I urge every person reading this article to check for these ingredients in your garden mulch and to alert all pet owners that you know about its dangers.
Our pets are valued members of our families. They depend and trust us as their owners to keep them healthy and free from preventable harm.
