Rodents, including chipmunks and squirrels eat tomato fruit. Groundhogs like them, too. Our farm dogs have always helped themselves to tomato fruit that dangles outside the garden fence. Our current Lab/Rott mix has enjoyed seasonal tomatoes for 16 years -with never a single health issue.
I had qualms about it at first, but it seems that the dogs know what they're about.
Thanks for the interesting and fun article, Chris!