Will cocoa bean mulch harm pets?

Annually, the urban legend describing the death of a dog named Calypso circulates on the Internet. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the incidence of reported pet illnesses caused by eating cocoa bean mulch is extremely low, and no credible evidence exists regarding pet mortalities.

Because cocoa bean mulch may cause distress in some pets, especially dogs with indiscriminant eating habits, it is not recommended for use around unsupervised pets.

For further information, please review the information below:

Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association:
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jun06/060601b.asp

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/cocoa-bean-shell-mulch.html

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