Cocoa Mulch,which is sold by Home Depot and Garden Supply stores is lethal to dogs and cats.It contains a lethal ingredient called "Theobromine".It smells like chocolate and it attracts pets.They will ingest this stuff and die.Several deaths have already occured.A word of caution - check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners use as well.Theobromine 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 quanity of garden mulch made from cocoa bean shells developed severe convultions and died 17 hours later.Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cocoa bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.Stay alert to chemicals that can be deadly to your pets.

Please alert family,friends,neighborhood,nurseries and local newspapers of this danger.Hopefully this warning will be publicized and retailers will post signs that these products contain ingredients that are deadly to pets.If not,at least we can do our part to inform pet owners.