The big wigs and little guys at Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) were noticing that all sorts of crazy and unique pet insurance claims were coming through their doors, and then were simply going to waste after being processed and reimbursed. Realizing that there were wonderfully interesting stories out there that were not being properly recognized, VPI decided to create the Hambone Award. The Hambone Award honors the accident-prone and silly mishap stories of dogs and cats (sort of like the Darwin awards without any tragic endings). Each month VPI employees choose one unusual pet insurance claim story that came in as a nominee for the annual Hambone Award.

Voting just recently closed for the 2008-2009 Hambone Award, but the results have not been tallied yet and a winner has not been chosen. The winner will be announced on an upcoming episode of The Rachel Ray Show, but no air date has been released yet (stay tuned).

Apparently the Hambone Award from VPI got its name from a dog that decided to help himself to an entire holiday ham, bone and all. He also happened to get trapped in the refrigerator where said ham was. And thus the Hambone Award was born…to honor animals that have a quirky accident story. Don’t worry, all animals that are nominated have made full recoveries and have been reimbursed for all eligible medical expenses through VPI.

Among the 12 nominated for the 2008-2009 Hambone Award are some pretty deserving candidates: there’s Lulu the Pacifier Protector, Jean Pierre the Dog Who Tried to be a Corndog, Crawford the Bra Eater, and Ranger and Rider who are still working on their “chase without running into odd things” skills. Take some time and read all 12 nominees’ stories, they are sure interesting!

The winner receives a bronze hambone trophy…keep out of reach of your dog, you don’t want him to eat it and be nominated again next year. Let’s hope there aren’t many repeat nominees.

My choice for the 2008-2009 winner:
Lulu

So far (knock on wood) I don’t have any crazy mishap or vet surprise stories from my dogs, past or present. Do you have a quirky dog injury stories? Something that might qualify your dog for a Hambone Award?