Sick as a dog... chocolate gift backfires on Sainsbury’s

IT WAS a thank you gift intended for a supermarket chain’s loyal customer base.

But Sainsbury’s decision to send dark chocolates to its reward card holders backfired yesterday, following reports that a number of dogs were made ill after rooting them out in the post.

The Green & Black’s chocolates, which were sent to hundreds of people across the country, prompted a spate of complaints from customers demanding to know why they were delivered without their consent.

Last night, the decision was criticised by veterinary experts, who warned that dogs are “incredibly sensitive” to chocolate as it contains theobromine, an ingredient that can prove lethal even if ingested in small quantities.

In a statement issued last night, Sainsbury’s said it was “extremely sorry for the distress caused”, adding that it was now “urgently investigating what went wrong.”

Dozens of pet owners took to social media to voice their anger, with one claiming that her puppy had been forced to have its “stomach pumped” as a result of the unexpected delivery.

“I am furious that you [Sainsbury’s] would think teaming up and posting 70 per cent dark chocolate samples through the letter boxes of people’s homes is responsible and safe,” wrote Sammy Taylor.

“I was out for less than two hours to return home and find three bars of dark chocolate devoured at my front doorstep and a very hyper puppy having heart palpitations.”

Dan Dugdale, a 27-year-old designer from York, told The Daily Telegraph that he had arrived home to find his two miniature dachshunds had eaten the contents of a Sainsbury’s parcel addressed to a previous occupant.

“I came home and they had just torn right through the packaging. They were completely hyper,” he added.

In another complaint sent to Sainsbury’s, Sarah Hayward said that she had been forced to rush her Cocker Spaniel to the vet for emergency treatment.

“He is now in a cage at the vets, being flushed through with fluids and forced to be sick in a desperate attempt to try and get rid of the toxic chocolate that’s lining his stomach,” she said.

John Fishwick, president of the British Veterinary Association, urged any pet owner with concerns to contact their local vet immediately.