Dried beans found at entrance of Bristol dog park raising alarm of pet owners

Some dog owners in Bristol are sounding the alarm after they found what appeared to be dried beans dumped at the city’s “B.A.R.K Park.”

According to some veterinarians and other experts, some types of raw, dried beans can be harmful to dogs if ingested.

Earlier this week, Ruby White and her two teething pups came across dozens of dumped, dried beans in the large dog section of the park.

“They kind of went near them and I sort of freaked out,” said White.

Fellow parkgoer Marc Landry helped clean up the mystery beans. Both park patrons agree that the beans sprawled across the park didn’t seem accidental.

“It obviously has to be purposefully done. It wasn’t a small amount; it was a large enough quantity that it had to be a whole bag of beans,” said Landry.

Dried beans might not strike pet owners as toxic to eat, especially because dogs can eat some types of cooked beans, like green beans, according to the American Kennel Club.

But Connecticut Humane Society veterinarian Dr. Amarpreet Kaur explained that certain types of beans are indeed toxic to dogs.

“Certain types of beans are toxic to dogs. This includes dry raw red kidney beans, Fava beans, and coffee beans. Ingestion of these can result in significant gastrointestinal side effects and can cause damage to the red blood cells. Neurological symptoms, including seizures, may also be seen,” said Kaur. “Canned beans, baked beans, chili beans, and refried beans should also be avoided as they typically contain added salt, garlic, and spices that are harmful to dogs. If your pet does ingest something they shouldn’t have, be sure to contact your veterinarian and monitor your pet for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, excessive drooling, tremors, or seizures.”

This is the exact concern of parkgoers who want to know why their furry friends were put at risk.

“There’s no reason for you to be throwing beans around trees. You have to know in some way, it’s going to harm the dogs,” said one parkgoer who didn’t want to share his name.

“I can’t believe someone would do that, it seems really over the top, it’s scary,” said another parkgoer. “Now you have to look everywhere you step now to make sure the dog’s not eating. It’s tough.”

The Bristol Department of Parks and Recreation tells us that if dog park goers see any further dumping, they should give the police a call.

“Pick up the stuff, don’t dump it in the parks. It’s time, it’s staff money, it’s resources to keep the parks clean and we need everyone to do their part,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Josh Mederios. “We are working with the Bristol Police Department to expand the camera system and have more trail cameras. This incident prompts the need to do more of that.”

Kaur also reminds dog owners to continue to monitor what their dog is ingesting, whether you’re at a park, on a walk, or at home.

“Dogs are naturally curious and may eat things they find on the ground or within reach. If you are not sure about a specific food and whether it is safe for your pet, it is always best to prevent them from eating it.”

Kaur says, when in doubt, it is always safest to consult your veterinarian or pet poison hotline, ASPCA Animal Poison Control, 1-888-426-4435, for guidance.

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