Free Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free willEvery year, Nationwide® receives millions of pet insurance claims for everything from the mundane to the truly unusual.
Nationwide created the Hambone Award® to honor the strangest, most hair-raising pet insurance claim of the year. Each story we highlight is meant to exemplify the strength of our pets and their pet parents, and to spotlight the amazing skills of their trusted veterinarians.
It’s also a way to highlight all the things that can happen—and have happened—and the importance of being prepared. This year, our team searched through more than 3 million claims to find our nominees.
Why is it called the “Hambone” Award?
The Hambone Award is named in honor of a Nationwide-insured dog who got stuck in a refrigerator and ate an entire holiday ham while waiting for someone to find him. The dog was eventually found, with a licked-clean ham bone and a mild case of hypothermia.
Since then, we’ve awarded the grand prize to twelve pets, including a canyon-diving German shepherd, a rock-pooping pug and many others.
How to vote
Voting for the Hambone Award winner is open to the public and takes place October 4-17. You can cast one vote per day for your favorite nominee until voting closes. Winner to be announced on October 19th.
Meet this year’s Hambone Award nominees
Casper: Tumbled in the dryer
Russell: Broke teeth on the stairs
Nines: Stuck in a bracelet
Rafa: Trapped in a water drain
- Rocket: Ate an entire tennis ball
- Rue: Treat stuck up nose
- Shadow: Battled a raccoon
- Dublin: Stung by a man o' war
- Rex: Wishbone stuck in throat
- Orangina: Covered in foam insulation
- Ellie: Tail caught in door
- Maeve: Toy stuck around jaw
All nominated pets have recovered and received reimbursements for eligible veterinary expenses from Nationwide® pet insurance.
Follow us on social @NationwidePet to learn more about the nominees. Then go to HamboneAward.com to vote for your favorite!
Free Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free willFree Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free willFree Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free willFree Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free willFree Will
They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.
Create your free will