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Every 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 petinsurance.com/hamboneaward to vote for your favorite!
Add-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new pet