Hambone Award

{{Infobox award

| name = Hambone Award

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| alt = Hound mix with the trophy awarded in 2017 for the impalement injury; the trophy is a small bronze sculpture of a ham with bone, on a black oval base, with the date and name of the winner on a brass plate affixed to the front of the base.

| caption = Rooster, with 2017 Hambone Award

| awarded_for = Unusual injuries to pets

| sponsor = Veterinary Pet Insurance

| date = {{start date and age|2009|09}}

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| country = United States

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| website = {{URL|www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/}}

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The Hambone Award is presented annually by the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance to the family of the pet 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 policy, an unnamed dog who reportedly was trapped in a refrigerator for several hours and suffered a mild case of hypothermia while waiting for rescue, consuming the family's holiday ham 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2010/08/02/you-be-the-judge-which-is-the-strangest-pet/ |title=YOu be the judge: Which is the strangest pet? |date=August 2, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |access-date=29 September 2023}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%;text-align:center;" \|+Hambone Award winners{{cite web \|url=http://www.hamboneaward.com/category/hall-of-winners/ \|title=Hall of Winners \|website=Hambone Award \|access-date=29 September 2023}} ! Year !! Name !! Animal !! class="unsortable" \| Injury
2009 \| Lulu \|\| English bulldog \| style="text-align:left;" \| Over six months, ate 15 pacifiers, a bottle cap, and part of a basketball; discovered after owner noticed a pacifier went missing immediately after being dropped and licked."{{cite news \|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/x-ray-from-dog-that-ate-15-pacifiers-lived-to-bark-about-it-2582250 \|title=X-Ray From Dog That Ate 15 Pacifiers, Lived to Bark About It \|author=Garrison, Chad \|date=September 11, 2009 \|work=Riverfront Times \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2010 \| Ellie \|\| Labrador retriever \| style="text-align:left;" \| Ate beehive left by exterminators; owners noticed dog was vomiting "hundreds of bees".{{cite news \|url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/santee-dog-wins-hambone-award-for-eating-beehive/509-3f77208f-65bc-4674-9c98-5fca44e2a203 \|title=Santee dogs wins 'Hambone Award' for eating beehive \|date=August 23, 2010 \|work=KFMB CBS 8 San Diego \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2011 \| Harley \|\| Pug \| style="text-align:left;" \| Ate rocks, causing bowel obstruction; owner was frightened by bowel movements that were composed mostly of rocks.{{cite news \|url=https://www.today.com/news/pug-who-ate-pooped-100-rocks-contest-front-runner-wbna44452039 \|title=Pug who ate, pooped 100 rocks is contest front-runner \|author=Stump, Scott \|date=September 9, 2011 \|work=NBC Today \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2012 \| Peanut \|\| mixed Dachshund / Terrier \| style="text-align:left;" \| Sprayed by skunk and nearly suffocated after becoming trapped in loose dirt under owner's deck; deck was dismantled and owners retrieved dog after spotting one free paw.{{cite news \|url=https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2011/11/dog_that_buried_himself_alive.html \|title=Dog that buried himself [sic] alive while chasing a skunk in line for award for silliest pet insurance claim \|author=Roncace, Kelly \|date=November 27, 2011 \|work=NJ.com \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2013 \| Winnie \|\| mixed-breed dog \| style="text-align:left;" \| Ate {{cvt\|2\|lb}} of frozen onion rings.{{cite news \|url=https://www.today.com/pets/dog-survives-eating-two-pounds-onion-rings-wins-prize-8c11422982 \|title=Dog survives eating two pounds of onion rings, wins prize \|author=Eugenios, Jillian \|date=October 19, 2013 \|work=NBC Today \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2014 \| Charlie \|\| Labrador retriever \| style="text-align:left;" \| Run over by farm equipment towed behind tractor, fracturing spine and damaging kidney, which had to be removed.{{cite news \|url=https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/10/07/purdue-vet-team-gives-dog-second-chance-life/16879161/ \|title=Purdue vet team gives dog second chance at life \|author=Wilkins, Ron \|date=October 7, 2014 \|work=Journal & Courier \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2015 \| Curtis \|\| Boxer \| style="text-align:left;" \| Ate wooden barbecue skewer; removed nearly one year later, having been encapsulated in a baseball-sized foreign body granuloma.{{cite news \|url=https://news.vt.edu/articles/2015/11/110515-vetmed-curtistheboxer.html \|title=Curtis, a Veterinary Teaching Hospital patient who snacked on a skewer, wins national competition \|date=November 5, 2015 \|work=Virginia Tech News \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2016 \| Kismet \|\| Jack Russell terrier \| style="text-align:left;" \| Stabbed by burglar during violent robbery.{{cite news \|url=https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/hurt-while-saving-owner-dog-wins-hambone-award/ \|title=Hurt While Saving Owner, Dog Wins Hambone Award \|date=January 19, 2017 \|work=Veterinary Practice News \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2017 \| Rooster \|\| mixed hound \| style="text-align:left;" \| Impaled by branch more than {{cvt\|1\|ft}} long while hiking with owner.{{cite news \|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/pennsylvania-dog-wins-award-after-suffering-horrific-injury/ \|title=Pennsylvania dog wins award after suffering horrific injury \|author=Craig, Daniel \|date=October 20, 2017 \|work=Philly Voice \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2018 \| Ziva and Zeus \|\| German shepherds \| style="text-align:left;" \| Escaped from yard and missing for three weeks after being trapped inside abandoned missile silo {{cvt\|200\|yd}} from owners' home.{{cite news \|url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-county/german-shepherds-that-were-trapped-in-medical-lake-silo-nominated-for-award/293-598094198 \|title=German Shepherds that were trapped in Medical Lake silo nominated for award \|date=September 25, 2018 \|work=KREM 2 CBS Spokane \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2019 \| Minnow \|\| Domestic shorthair \| style="text-align:left;" \| Indoor/outdoor cat; missing for three weeks; suffered starvation, dehydration, and a broken rib.{{cite news \|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/features/the-good-life/2019/10/30/wayward-cat-wins-nationwide-award/2403286007/ \|title=Wayward cat wins Nationwide award for most unusual pet insurance claim \|author=Henry, Megan \|date=October 30, 2019 \|work=The Columbus Dispatch \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2020 \| Chopper \|\| Boxer \| style="text-align:left;" \| Burst through a window while trying to greet a visitor, injuring paws and tendons.{{cite news \|url=https://www.dvm360.com/view/a-virginia-boxer-wins-2020-hambone-award \|title=A Virginia boxer wins 2020 Hambone Award December 3, 2020 \|work=DVM 360 \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2021 \| Bruin \|\| German shepherd \| style="text-align:left;" \| Broke leg and missing for four days after falling {{cvt\|400\|ft}} into a canyon.{{cite news \|url=https://signalscv.com/2021/11/bruin-chases-after-life/ \|title=Bruin chases after life \|author=Alvarenga, Emily \|date=November 30, 2021 \|work=Santa Clarita Valley Signal \|access-date=29 September 2023}}
2022 \| Rafa \|\| Siberian cat mix \| style="text-align:left;" \| Developed severe hypothermia after being trapped in storm drain.{{cite web \|url=https://thescoop.seattle.gov/2022/04/06/team-goes-above-beyond-and-below-ground-to-rescue-wayward-feline/ \|title=Team goes above, beyond, and below ground to rescue wayward feline \|author=Stoltzfus, Susan \|date=April 6, 2022 \|work=The Scoop \|publisher=Seattle Animal Shelter \|access-date=29 September 2023}}{{cite news \|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-cat-national-hambone-award-pet-insurance/281-a992d60b-b639-4f63-9cb9-f9955704868d \|title=Seattle cat in the running for National Hambone Award \|author=Cashman, Chris \|date=October 10, 2022 \|work=KING-5 NBC Seattle \|access-date=2 October 2023}}
2023 \| Giles \|\| Domestic shorthair \| style="text-align:left;" \| Although instructed to check for cat, inadvertently folded into sofa bed, requiring stitches.{{cite news \|url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/28/Nationwide-Hambone-Award-insurance-cat-couch/7391695930631/ \|title=Cat folded into sofa bed wins Hambone Award for unusual insurance claim \|author=Hooper, Ben \|date=September 28, 2023 \|work=UPI Archives \|access-date=29 September 2023}}{{cite news \|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/30/us/hambone-award-cat-folded-sofa-trnd/index.html \|title=A cat wins Hambone Award after being folded in a sofa bed \|author=Nelson, Kara \|date=September 30, 2023 \|work=CNN \|access-date=2 October 2023}}
2024 \| Luca \|\| Shiloh shepherd \| style="text-align:left;" \| Pulled kitchen cabinet off tracks and ate garbage.{{cite news \|url=https://www.dvm360.com/view/shepherd-wins-hambone-award-for-destroying-kitchen-cabinet \|title=Shepherd wins Hambone Award for destroying kitchen cabinet \|first=Austin \|last=Littrell \|date=September 6, 2024 \|work=DVM 360 \|access-date=14 November 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%;text-align:center;"

|+Hambone Award winners{{cite web |url=http://www.hamboneaward.com/category/hall-of-winners/ |title=Hall of Winners |website=Hambone Award |access-date=29 September 2023}}

! Year !! Name !! Animal !! class="unsortable" | Injury

2009

| Lulu || English bulldog

| style="text-align:left;" | Over six months, ate 15 pacifiers, a bottle cap, and part of a basketball; discovered after owner noticed a pacifier went missing immediately after being dropped and licked."{{cite news |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/x-ray-from-dog-that-ate-15-pacifiers-lived-to-bark-about-it-2582250 |title=X-Ray From Dog That Ate 15 Pacifiers, Lived to Bark About It |author=Garrison, Chad |date=September 11, 2009 |work=Riverfront Times |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2010

| Ellie || Labrador retriever

| style="text-align:left;" | Ate beehive left by exterminators; owners noticed dog was vomiting "hundreds of bees".{{cite news |url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/santee-dog-wins-hambone-award-for-eating-beehive/509-3f77208f-65bc-4674-9c98-5fca44e2a203 |title=Santee dogs wins 'Hambone Award' for eating beehive |date=August 23, 2010 |work=KFMB CBS 8 San Diego |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2011

| Harley || Pug

| style="text-align:left;" | Ate rocks, causing bowel obstruction; owner was frightened by bowel movements that were composed mostly of rocks.{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/news/pug-who-ate-pooped-100-rocks-contest-front-runner-wbna44452039 |title=Pug who ate, pooped 100 rocks is contest front-runner |author=Stump, Scott |date=September 9, 2011 |work=NBC Today |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2012

| Peanut || mixed Dachshund / Terrier

| style="text-align:left;" | Sprayed by skunk and nearly suffocated after becoming trapped in loose dirt under owner's deck; deck was dismantled and owners retrieved dog after spotting one free paw.{{cite news |url=https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2011/11/dog_that_buried_himself_alive.html |title=Dog that buried himself [sic] alive while chasing a skunk in line for award for silliest pet insurance claim |author=Roncace, Kelly |date=November 27, 2011 |work=NJ.com |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2013

| Winnie || mixed-breed dog

| style="text-align:left;" | Ate {{cvt|2|lb}} of frozen onion rings.{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/pets/dog-survives-eating-two-pounds-onion-rings-wins-prize-8c11422982 |title=Dog survives eating two pounds of onion rings, wins prize |author=Eugenios, Jillian |date=October 19, 2013 |work=NBC Today |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2014

| Charlie || Labrador retriever

| style="text-align:left;" | Run over by farm equipment towed behind tractor, fracturing spine and damaging kidney, which had to be removed.{{cite news |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/10/07/purdue-vet-team-gives-dog-second-chance-life/16879161/ |title=Purdue vet team gives dog second chance at life |author=Wilkins, Ron |date=October 7, 2014 |work=Journal & Courier |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2015

| Curtis || Boxer

| style="text-align:left;" | Ate wooden barbecue skewer; removed nearly one year later, having been encapsulated in a baseball-sized foreign body granuloma.{{cite news |url=https://news.vt.edu/articles/2015/11/110515-vetmed-curtistheboxer.html |title=Curtis, a Veterinary Teaching Hospital patient who snacked on a skewer, wins national competition |date=November 5, 2015 |work=Virginia Tech News |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2016

| Kismet || Jack Russell terrier

| style="text-align:left;" | Stabbed by burglar during violent robbery.{{cite news |url=https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/hurt-while-saving-owner-dog-wins-hambone-award/ |title=Hurt While Saving Owner, Dog Wins Hambone Award |date=January 19, 2017 |work=Veterinary Practice News |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2017

| Rooster || mixed hound

| style="text-align:left;" | Impaled by branch more than {{cvt|1|ft}} long while hiking with owner.{{cite news |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/pennsylvania-dog-wins-award-after-suffering-horrific-injury/ |title=Pennsylvania dog wins award after suffering horrific injury |author=Craig, Daniel |date=October 20, 2017 |work=Philly Voice |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2018

| Ziva and Zeus || German shepherds

| style="text-align:left;" | Escaped from yard and missing for three weeks after being trapped inside abandoned missile silo {{cvt|200|yd}} from owners' home.{{cite news |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-county/german-shepherds-that-were-trapped-in-medical-lake-silo-nominated-for-award/293-598094198 |title=German Shepherds that were trapped in Medical Lake silo nominated for award |date=September 25, 2018 |work=KREM 2 CBS Spokane |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2019

| Minnow || Domestic shorthair

| style="text-align:left;" | Indoor/outdoor cat; missing for three weeks; suffered starvation, dehydration, and a broken rib.{{cite news |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/features/the-good-life/2019/10/30/wayward-cat-wins-nationwide-award/2403286007/ |title=Wayward cat wins Nationwide award for most unusual pet insurance claim |author=Henry, Megan |date=October 30, 2019 |work=The Columbus Dispatch |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2020

| Chopper || Boxer

| style="text-align:left;" | Burst through a window while trying to greet a visitor, injuring paws and tendons.{{cite news |url=https://www.dvm360.com/view/a-virginia-boxer-wins-2020-hambone-award |title=A Virginia boxer wins 2020 Hambone Award December 3, 2020 |work=DVM 360 |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2021

| Bruin || German shepherd

| style="text-align:left;" | Broke leg and missing for four days after falling {{cvt|400|ft}} into a canyon.{{cite news |url=https://signalscv.com/2021/11/bruin-chases-after-life/ |title=Bruin chases after life |author=Alvarenga, Emily |date=November 30, 2021 |work=Santa Clarita Valley Signal |access-date=29 September 2023}}

2022

| Rafa || Siberian cat mix

| style="text-align:left;" | Developed severe hypothermia after being trapped in storm drain.{{cite web |url=https://thescoop.seattle.gov/2022/04/06/team-goes-above-beyond-and-below-ground-to-rescue-wayward-feline/ |title=Team goes above, beyond, and below ground to rescue wayward feline |author=Stoltzfus, Susan |date=April 6, 2022 |work=The Scoop |publisher=Seattle Animal Shelter |access-date=29 September 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-cat-national-hambone-award-pet-insurance/281-a992d60b-b639-4f63-9cb9-f9955704868d |title=Seattle cat in the running for National Hambone Award |author=Cashman, Chris |date=October 10, 2022 |work=KING-5 NBC Seattle |access-date=2 October 2023}}

2023

| Giles || Domestic shorthair

| style="text-align:left;" | Although instructed to check for cat, inadvertently folded into sofa bed, requiring stitches.{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/28/Nationwide-Hambone-Award-insurance-cat-couch/7391695930631/ |title=Cat folded into sofa bed wins Hambone Award for unusual insurance claim |author=Hooper, Ben |date=September 28, 2023 |work=UPI Archives |access-date=29 September 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/30/us/hambone-award-cat-folded-sofa-trnd/index.html |title=A cat wins Hambone Award after being folded in a sofa bed |author=Nelson, Kara |date=September 30, 2023 |work=CNN |access-date=2 October 2023}}

2024

| Luca || Shiloh shepherd

| style="text-align:left;" | Pulled kitchen cabinet off tracks and ate garbage.{{cite news |url=https://www.dvm360.com/view/shepherd-wins-hambone-award-for-destroying-kitchen-cabinet |title=Shepherd wins Hambone Award for destroying kitchen cabinet |first=Austin |last=Littrell |date=September 6, 2024 |work=DVM 360 |access-date=14 November 2024}}

References

External links

{{cite web |url=https://www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/ |title=Hambone Award |website=Veterinary Pet Insurance}}

Category:Pets in the United States