Retriever retrieves flaming hot snack fresh off the grill

Meet Boone, a loving and excitable golden retriever from New Jersey.

When Nationwide member Amanda S. reached out about a handsome puppy in search of a furever home, she didn’t expect he would be brought right to her doorstep. Talk about a special delivery! “They pulled up to my house and they called me, ‘Hey, we're outside,’” she remembers. “Then, they handed me my puppy-package right into my arms.” From that moment onward, her connection with puppy Boone was signed, sealed and delivered.

Shortly after Boone’s arrival, the emerging COVID-19 pandemic led to Amanda spending a lot more time at home. For Amanda, really connecting with Boone was a silver lining during a difficult time.

Amanda says, “There was certainly a lot of bad with COVID, but the good was I ended up having a lot more time with him, because we were home. So, I got to train him. I got to hang out with him and be with him, more than I would have if that didn't happen.”

As a result, they became super-duper connected. Now, Boone follows Amanda wherever she goes like a joyful shadow.

“He's just so happy all the time,” Amanda says. “He's teaching me how to find the joy in the little things, right? Because everything makes him happy.”

Being a hooman shadow comes with perks for a pup, but there are dangers too—like when a tumbling chunk of chicken led to a veterinary visit that inspired this Hambone nod.

What happened?

“The sun was shining on a very pleasant day, so I decided to grill outside,” Amanda remembers. She had chicken on the menu, and her canine shadow was happy to follow her. “Once the chicken was clearly done, I started to transfer it to the plate,” she says. “And it was during that process that one of the pieces of chicken fell off the grill.”

Boone was perfectly positioned to snap up the tender morsel, not realizing just how dangerous it was.

“He went right for that chicken bone,” Amanda continues. “He started choking on it immediately. Because it was, you know, a whole piece of chicken that fell off the grill.”

Amanda sprang into action, reaching deep in Boone’s mouth to pull out the chicken bone. She was able to dislodge the obstruction, but Boone continued to make hoarse sounds for a while afterward, like he was struggling to breathe. Amanda considered just how hot that chicken must have been, and realized he’d likely experienced a burn in his throat. She rushed him to the veterinarian for an examination. She continues, “The doctor looked down into his mouth, and saw that there was redness and swelling.”

Boone was prescribed medication to reduce the inflammation, plus fluids and rest to heal. Fortunately, he quickly made a full recovery, and his eligible veterinary expenses were covered by Amanda’s Nationwide pet insurance plan.

Boone may have learned his lesson, but Amanda now keeps her canine shadow inside nonetheless when it’s BBQ time.

How Nationwide helped

Amanda wasn't so sure about insurance initially: “I had this pre-conceived notion that insurance was a lot of money out of pocket. So, I kind of just avoided it." That changed when it was offered through her employer. “I was like, ‘Wait, is that really how much it costs for all that?’’ she says. “It was affordable, and it comes right out of my paycheck—pretty much I don't see it.”

Amanda is even more convinced after Boone’s chicken fiasco. “It's expensive going to the vet but they did a great job. They deserve to be paid, but out of pocket, it's a lot of money.”

“Accidents happen. Life happens,” Amanda continues. “It's helpful to know that Nationwide can help cover expenses when I must take him to the vet. Plus, there's the resources available for pet parents like me that are invaluable, because peace of mind is everything."