[Summit] not to change the subject... cocoa mulch dangerous to dogs

[libertyliterary at cox.net]

Dear Amanda & Summit Neighbors,

My organization, Toxics Information Project (TIP), includes
a Protecting Pets concern and section on our website,
www.toxicsinfo.org/protectpets.htm

Therefore, I was very interested in this message, but
too busy to respond until now.

I had actually researched the cocoa mulch assertions
earlier, and found a good article at a site that examines
"urban legends" to see if they are true.  Read it at: www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Also, a helpful source for pet info is the ASPCA site.  The poison control page includes a link to  household poisons to avoid.  Chocolate is mentioned.  Cocoa mulch is not specifically addressed, although I found a 2003 ASPCA article about it on another site.   There is a link on the left hand side of the ASPCA Poison Control page for asking questions that may not be covered  elsewhere.
Here's the main Animal Poison Control site:
www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc

One warning - although this is a great resource with a lot of important information about pet hazards, they are not  sufficiently concerned about certain chemicals, such as lawn pesticides and bleach.  We have information about significant hazards to pets as well as people from these, even when "applied as directed".

Blessings,

Liberty G
*************************************************************************

---- Amanda Woodward <awoodward7 at verizon.net> wrote: 

=============
Thought everyone could use a break from the parking discussion.
I received the below mail from my mom and checked to make sure this wasn't a tall tale.  A couple of articles also attached.
 
http://www.petcaretips.net/cocoa-mulch-dog.html
 
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/homeowners/020608.html
 
 
>Subject: Please read & pass on to dog owners!!
>
>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 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, 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 companies web site, this product is HIGHLY toxic to
>
>dogs.
>
>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."
>
>True information about the mulch can be found here -
>http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoa.htm This site gives the
>following information:
>
>Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and
>other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theo
>bromine".
>
>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.
>
>Theo bromine is the ingredient that is used to make 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 email the manufacturer at michellemessick at hersheys.com and
>request
>that accurate information about this product be posted on the packaging
>to
>avoid further tragedy.
>
>PLEASE GIVE THIS WIDEST DISTRIBUTION=============