I recieved this in an email....I don't have any knowledge on its truth but thought it was worth posting.
Beware!
snopes.com: Cocoa Mulch
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
'Theobromine' . It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like choc o
late 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 y our gardens and be aware of
what your gardeners are using in your gardens.
Theobromine is in 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 d i ed 17 hours later.
Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells
revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.