Photo by Bryony RichardsBrave Battle with Burglar Earns Kismet the 8th Annual Hambone Award
Kismet, a Jack Russell terrier from Salt Lake City, Utah has won the 2016 Hambone Award, honoring the most unusual pet insurance claim of the year. Kismet earned the nomination after he bravely intervened during a violent burglary that left he and his owner in critical condition. The 8th annual Hambone Award is presented by Nationwide, the nation’s first and largest provider of pet health insurance. After selecting 11 nominees for the most unusual claim of the year, Nationwide opened a public vote at HamboneAward to decide the winner, where Kismet received the most votes.
Photo by Bryony RichardsKismet was treated by the veterinary team at Advanced Veterinary Care in Salt Lake City where they performed a lifesaving surgery to treat a major stab wound that he received during the altercation. For their outstanding work, Advanced Veterinary Care will receive a $10,000 Nationwide-funded award through the Veterinary Care Foundation (VCF) to treat pets whose owners could otherwise not afford veterinary care. One hundred percent of all donations to the VCF are used to treat pets, with no contributions used for administration, fundraising or overhead.
Photo by Bryony RichardsKismet’s Story: Jack Russell Hero Intervenes During Near Deadly Burglary
As the 2016 Hambone Award winner, Kismet will receive the coveted bronze Hambone Award Trophy, as well as a Nationwide gift bag filled with toys, treats and various pet supplies.
The competition was close with the following nominees falling short by just a few hundred votes:
Second Place – Ludmila the Tibetan terrier (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Ludmila’s incredible curiosity got the best of her when she managed to get her head stuck in a solid oak coffee table so snug that not even the fire department could get her out (Ludmila was treated at the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Clinic).
Third Place – Oso the Blue Heeler mix (La Mesa, Calif.). Oso is an incredibly athletic dog with a long list of active hobbies including surfing and hiking. However, one of Oso’s field trips took a terrible turn when he misjudged a leap and crashed head first into a cement barrier, shattering his snout (Oso was treated at the Pet Emergency & Specialty Center of East County in La Mesa).
Nationwide would like to thank all of this year’s nominees for participating in the 2016 Hambone Award. It was our pleasure to share their stories!
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