It’s time to cast your vote for the 2022 Hambone Award recipient. Previous winners include Ellie the yellow Lab, who ate an entire beehive, and Bruin, a three-year-old German Shepherd who survived a 400-foot fall into a California canyon.
The annual prize is presented to the Nationwide Pet Insurance subscriber with the wildest survival story. Named for its original winner, who devoured an entire Thanksgiving ham while stuck in a refrigerator, the Hambone Award comes with a trophy, a $1,000 gift card, and a $1,000 donation to the pet charity of the winner’s choice.
Among this year’s finalists for the Hambone Award are a treat-snorting Cattle Dog, a man o’ war-battling Australian Shepherd, and a tennis ball-swallowing Terrier mix. There are a total of 12 finalists, but it should come as no surprise that the majority are dogs. Our pups just seem to have a knack for finding trouble, don’t they?
Let’s meet the eight canine contenders! Click your favorite pup’s name to cast your vote.
Rex
Everybody loves the wishbone, but when Rex the Shih Tzu from Livonia, Michigan, swallowed one at a graduation party, he became very sick. After three days of close observation, his family realized their dog was unable to swallow. The wishbone had become lodged in a sensitive area of Rex’s throat, requiring specialty surgery at Michigan State University. It was a scary—and potentially costly—ordeal, but Rex made a full recovery.
Dublin
This perky mini Australian Shepherd loves running along the Florida beaches near his home. One day, he found more than he bargained for as he trotted through a patch of seaweed near the shore. Dublin was stung by a Portuguese man o’ war, a venomous creature similar to a jellyfish. While a man o’ war sting can potentially be deadly, Dublin was lucky. He suffered a very sore paw, but the creature’s stinger did not become embedded in his skin.
After minor treatment, Dublin is back to doing what he loves best!
Ellie
A city gal through and through, Ellie the Goldendoodle lives in New York, NY. While safe from the dangers of rural living, Ellie suffered a very city injury when a heavy steel door slammed shut on her tail, severing a portion of it. While vets were unable to reattach the tail, this brave pup endured two surgeries and has since made a full recovery.
Maeve
Labrador Retrievers are known for letting their appetites get them in trouble, and chocolate girl, Maeve from Madison, Wisconsin, is no exception. She managed to hollow out a chew bone and get it stuck on her lower jaw. These types of injuries can be very dangerous, but Maeve’s veterinary team managed to extract the bone without surgery. This lucky gal is safe, happy, and back to all her favorite activities!
Rocket
Rocket is a happy-go-lucky shelter rescue who happens to be completely deaf. He lives with his parents and a Boston Terrier sibling in Pembroke Pines, Florida. One day, while playing with his brother’s small dog-sized tennis ball, Rocket accidentally swallowed it whole! He underwent emergency surgery to remove the foreign object and, after several weeks of recovery, is now back to his playful self.
Rue
Cattle dog/Retriever mix Rue lives with her parents and dog sibling in Royersford, Pennsylvania. Her folks describe her as quirky and playful, so her veterinary emergency was right on brand. While trying to catch a tossed treat, the snack accidentally became lodged in Rue’s nose. She seemed fine until she began pawing her nose and breathing strangely. Luckily, Rue was able to dispel the treat on her own with a good, strong sneeze!
Russell
Sweet Russell from Granada Hills, California, was joyfully running to greet his human sister when he collided face-first with a concrete step. He cracked several front teeth that required surgical extraction. Russell made a quick recovery and is back to his “curmudgeonly” self!
Shadow
Shadow is a 90-pound Doberman from North Kingstown, Rhode Island, who is very protective of his family members. One evening, he battled a raccoon while protecting his canine sister, sustaining a deep laceration. Shadow braved his injury and made a full recovery after several stitches and some updated shots.
These eight dogs and their feline (and one reptilian) competitors were chosen after reviewing nearly 3.4 million claims submitted by Nationwide members over the past year. Voting closes on October 17.
Toledo, United States.
