Just read this on another Chat Forum and thought it should be passed on........
Subject: Please tell every dog or cat owner you know.
Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.
> >
Yesterday one of our dog agility friends experienced a tragedy and wanted me to pass a special message along to all of my dog loving friends and family.
> > 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 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 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
> > stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed
> > the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.
> > PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION!!!
Subject: Please tell every dog or cat owner you know.
Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.
> >
Yesterday one of our dog agility friends experienced a tragedy and wanted me to pass a special message along to all of my dog loving friends and family.
> > 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 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 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
> > stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed
> > the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.
> > PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION!!!
