Nationwide has unveiled the finalists for this year’s Hambone Award, a distinctive accolade that honors the most bizarre pet insurance claims. This annual recognition, bestowed by Nationwide Insurance’s Veterinary Pet Insurance Company subsidiary, celebrates pets with the most unusual accidents.
The Hambone Award is named after a dog that once consumed an entire holiday ham while trapped in a refrigerator. The dog was eventually discovered with a clean ham bone and mild hypothermia, as detailed on the award’s official website.
2024 Hambone Award Finalists
Among this year’s contenders is Archie, a New Jersey dog who suffered paw injuries after crashing through a vintage plate glass door while trying to alert his family about the arrival of a mail carrier.
Bear, a corgi from Pennsylvania, is also in the running after biting into a bottle of nail adhesive, which resulted in his mouth being glued shut.
The finalists also include Clover, a parrot from Joe’s household. Clover’s playful antics led to her claws becoming entangled, leaving her toenails hooked together. Joe remarked, “I’m not sure how it happened, but her feet got stuck because her two toenails had hooked.”
Another notable candidate is Lambeau, a North Carolina dog who ingested over 250 jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Previous Winners
Past Hambone Award winners include Chopper, a Boxer who made headlines in 2022 by jumping through a window to greet a visitor, and Winnie, a mix-breed dog who won in 2013 after consuming nearly a kilogram of frozen onion rings.
Award Purpose
All nominated pets have fully recovered, and their owners received insurance reimbursement for eligible expenses. Public voting for this year’s finalists is open until August 22 on the insurance company’s website.
The Hambone Award aims to highlight the resilience of pets and the dedication of their owners and veterinarians. It also serves to remind pet owners of the unexpected incidents that can occur and the importance of being prepared.
