The Hambone Award is presented annually by the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company subsidiary of
Nationwide Insurance
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies, commonly shortened to Nationwide, is a group of large U.S. insurance and financial services companies based in Columbus, Ohio. The company also operates regional headquarters in Scott ...
to the family of the
pet
A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/ cute appearances, inte ...
that wins a public vote determining whose injuries were caused by the most unusual circumstances.
History
It is named for an unusual accident suffered by a client covered by a
pet insurance
Pet insurance is a form of insurance that pays, partly or in total, for veterinary treatment of the insured person's ill or injured pet. Some policies will pay out when the pet dies, or if the pet is lost or stolen.
As veterinary medicine is inc ...
policy, an unnamed dog who reportedly was trapped in a refrigerator for several hours and suffered a mild case of
hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe ...
while waiting for rescue, consuming the family's holiday
ham
Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in '' Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 39. As a processed meat, the term '' ...
during the process.
[ The winner receives a bronze ham-shaped trophy, a gift card, and an award to be donated to an approved pet-related charity.][
Voting is open for approximately one week. The first winner, Lulu, made a televised appearance on ''Rachael Ray''.]
References
External links
* {{cite web , url=https://www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/ , title=Hambone Award , website=Veterinary Pet Insurance
Pets in the United States