Dr. Elizabeth Severino is a Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Workshop Leader, World-Renowned Animal Communicator, and Ordained Spiritual Healer. She does her work now in 30 countries.   Her Overarching Mission is "Compassion for All Beings." Her Dream is "An Animal Communicator in Every Family." 

TWO YEARS ago, in May of 2008, I first alerted people to the dangers of Cocoa Mulch to dogs. Dogs were then and still are now strongly drawn to the sweet smelling, delicious (to them) tasting mulch.  When I first raised the alert, two deaths had been reported after two dogs had ingested it.  Since it's the mulching time of year again here in the North East, and since Cocoa Mulch is still being marketed and distributed, I'm feeling to send out a warning WITH IMPORTANT UPDATES TO THIS SITUATION.  Please read on. You may save a life.

A few things have changed. One is that The Hershey Company have stopped marketing and distributing their former product, Hershey Cocoa Shell Mulch. From here it seems that the reports that dogs died shortly after ingesting the mulch and the very wide-spread Internet reaction and help (THANK YOU!!!) in spreading this important news, influenced that company. Kudos to Hershey.

Another change is that The Hersey Company web-site now has an excellent recap of the dangers of theobromine and caffeine, both items potentially highly toxic to dogs. Theobromine was in Hershey's former product and still is in existing cocoa mulch products in varying concentrations (read on). As of this writing, I have not researched whether the cocoa mulch raw materials are being supplied by Hershey, but at least they're not marketing or distributing a product with their incredibly popular name on it themselves.

A third change is that at least one manufacturer of Cocoa Mulch claims to be using a process that reduces the concentration of theobromine in their cocoa mulch.  This new process, they affirm,  reduces the danger.

What simply hasn't changed is that theobromine and caffeine are  highly toxic to dogs.  Unless the mulch is treated with the new process, and even then I wouldn't use it, cocoa mulch is toxic to dogs and must not be used where dogs or other small animals may have access to it.  Also, you must still be wise when walking with your dogs in areas that have been mulched by others, since your dog will smell it before you do and react before you will!  Please read on for details and pass this along to everyone you know who may need this information! 

Cocoa Shell Mulch is a by-product of the chocolate making process.  Hershey who no longer markets the product directly, once called the mulch the perfect mulch for gardens due to its exceptional landscaping qualities, flexible use and sweet aroma. It is 100% organic, prevents weed growth and deters insects and other pests.  All of these appeared to be strong "plusses" at first blush. The Mulch originally was widely available, being sold at popular and major stores including Target, The Home Depot, and others.

However, all cocoa beans have a naturally occurring ingredient, theobromine. It is chemically similar to caffeine and functions as a stimulant in many animal species. Overdoses of theobromine cause excitation, nervousness, seizures, convulsions, and sometimes death in some animal species, especially dogs. Humans show little sensitivity to theobromine.  This means humans can eat chocolate but many animals like dogs cannot. To summarize, the result of ingesting theobromine in some animals is toxicity and even death.

Two years later, Cocoa Mulch is still being manufactured and marketed. All mulch manufacturers have warning labels on their bags.  READ YOUR LABELS!!!  The original Cocoa Shell Mulch packaged by The Hershey company DID contain such a warning on the front and back of each bag.  Existing Cocoa Mulches also have warnings.  There is one Cocoa Mulch manufacturer who states they are using a new process that significantly reduces the danger, although caution is still advised.  Personally, I wouldn't want to risk it.
 

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LABELS AND THIS WARNING!!!! MAKE SURE YOUR FRIENDS WITH DOGS PAY ATTENTION TO IT, TOO!!! DO NOT PUT COCOA MULCH IN AREAS WHERE YOUR DOG OR ANY OTHER DOG COULD HAVE ACCESS TO IT!!! DO NOT LET YOUR DOG RUN LOOSE IN ANY AREA THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MULCHED WITH IT!!!  ALWAYS ACT ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF WHO HAS MULCHED WITH WHAT!!! THE MULCH IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF BEING PUT DOWN, WHEN IT IS VERY FRESH AND ALSO SMELLING DELICIOUS!!!

Thank you for caring for the well-being of our animals friends!  Please pass this warning along to everyone you know .. you may save a life!