A dog owner wants to warn others after dark chocolate was thrown into her garden for her pet to eat.

Esther Edwards, 28, saw her Jack Russell Penny tucking into something outside and when she got closer, she found a pile of chocolate cubes.

She believes it was a deliberate act to harm her dog – chocolate is poisonous for dogs.

Mrs Edwards, who lives near Lansdowne School in Sittingbourne, said: “It’s happened before, just after Easter, but it was only one or two bits then. It seemed a bit strange.

“I saw Penny eating something again one morning and ran outside and there was so much more of it.

"Straight after eating it she was sick, which really panicked me but that was the best thing that could have happened according to the vet.”

Mrs Edwards kept an eye on her three-year-old dog, and phoned her vet for advice.

Penny has since recovered but she doesn’t know why someone would target them.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine which can affect the heart, central nervous system and kidneys.

Humans can process the substance quickly, but dogs cannot, which allows toxic levels to build up.

There is more of the chemical in dark chocolate than in other types.

Mrs Edwards said: “Everything goes through your head, could it have been children?

“We live in a nice quiet area and haven’t had problems with anyone and it’s hard to pin down who it was.”

She is now checking the garden before she lets her dog out, and worries about other families with pets in the area being targeted.

“The thought that someone is trying to hurt her is horrible, she’s not a noisy dog, she’s not yappy, I can’t find a reason,” she added.

The chocolate used was unbranded and could have even been homemade.

She checked the cubes too see if there was anything inside, but could not find anything.

The family is now considering CCTV to pinpoint who is doing it.

They also want other people to be aware and check their gardens.