Insurer on the hunt for the most bizarre pet

 Nationwide is searching for the most unusual pet-insurance claim of the year. The insurer has combed through its database of more than 600,000 insured pets to nominate 12 candidates for its annual “Hambone Award.”

The veterinary practice that treated this year’s winner will receive a $10,000 award...

​through the Veterinary Care foundation to treat pets whose owners could not otherwise afford it.

Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us for the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago on October 26!

The nominated pets are:

• Muffy, a diabetic cat who fell down an abandoned well
• Star, a dog who stumbled into an open manhole during a walk
• Rooster, a therapy dog who was nearly lost after getting impaled on a tree branch during a hike
• Ruger, who was run over by a golf cart and saved by local firefighters
• Raja, a dog who was saved by his owner from a house fire
• Butterscotch, a dog who was shocked after stepping into a puddle that was exposed to a live wire
• Ruby, a puppy who got her head stuck in a moving elevator
• Chuter, a dog who was attacked by a moose
• Levi, a dog who ate a pair of adult pajama pants
• King, a dog who swallowed a frosting-covered spatula whole
• Denali, a dog who fought off a seven-foot alligator
• Tessa, a dog who was injured by a chainsaw

The Hambone Award, named for a dog who ate an entire Thanksgiving ham while stuck in a refrigerator, has been given to the most bizarre pet-insurance claim since 2009.

The winner will be decided by a public vote. For more detailed stories about this year’s nominees and to vote on a winner, visit HamboneAward.com. Voting is open until October 04.