WARNING TO DOG/CAT OWNERS -Cocoa Mulch Danger

[Helen+Sassy]

I'm glad I read this! We moved into this house last Feb and that cocoa mulch stuff was all over the front and back gardens, I removed all of it and replaced with pea gravel as I didn't like the look and it appeared to be attracting slugs.

[Millys Mum]

Your not green fingered then CC!
Mulch is put over the soil to help keep moisture and warmth in and stop weeds growing.

[ccmacey]

Whats this stuff used for anyway?

[swampmaxmum]

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cocoa-mulch.htm

This could mostly be avoided if companies would just spend a fraction extra and add 'potentially toxic' warnings to their labels. Is there a pressure group for better labelling of all products, flowers, paints etc to avoid pet deaths or serious illness? Many products are not obviously toxic - as opposed to eg bleach.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I think you need to read what was on the packet and see what it contains and gives as a H&S warning.

If it does contain high levels of the chemical mentioned, I would go to great lengths to remove as much as possible and ensure the rest was dug in and then covered with a thick layer of something else.

I have read the link that Sam has kindly put up and even that is not saying this is guarenteed to be safe. It sounds like its a hoax with some truth and I am sure we would want to err on the safe side when it comes to our cats and dogs.

[Sootyca]

Well, guess what was bought and spread around our garden two weeks ago!   

Reading everything it doesn't seem to be a huge risk to cats (and we don't get dog visitors).  Do we go down the route of it not affecting them so far so it's fine or get some bark to cover it with?  Check with B and Q if bark is on offer!

Thanks for the warning, better safe than sorry!

Karen
x

[Felix (Caroline)]

Its so awful 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Although partially true I'm afraid this story is more of an urban myth, and there have been no reports of dog deaths in a very long time.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/cocoa-mulch-warning.html

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

  OMG how awful ... I have cross posted onto the hovel and catchat.

[hOrZa]

edit: forget it, it sounded too harsh and wasn't meant

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Thanks for passing this on Dawn, how absolutely terrible for a product like this to be on sale..............how can one control what peeps in the neighbourhood use in their gardens and very bad for cats that wander including ferals and their kittens.

Lets hope this gets some big news coverage quickly and gets taken off the shelves

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

This message came to one of my friend's groups from Ali Taylor, Head of
Welfare, Battersea Dogs Home. They gave permission for it to be passed on.
Please heed.

Jane

Quote:
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 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, Mum 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.'

Also included was the following information -

Quote:
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 cho-colate 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.

Cocoa bean shells contai 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!!