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Do you plan vacations with your pet in mind?

  • Yes, I seek out pet-friendly hotels
  • Yes, I drive so they can come along
  • Yes, I bring them on the plane with me
  • No, I leave them at home

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Question: What is the VPI Hambone Award?

Answer:

Reviewing the tens of thousands of claims that come in each month, VPI noticed an abundance of claims that were unusually quirky but that ended well thanks to action on the part of our policyholders and their trusted veterinarians. The Hambone Award is named in honor of a VPI-insured dog that got stuck in a refrigerator and ate an entire Thanksgiving ham while waiting for someone to find him! The dog was eventually found, with a licked-clean ham bone and a mild case of hypothermia.

Each month, VPI employees select one interesting claim as that month’s nominee. All nominees considered for the award are pets that have made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursement for eligible expenses.
 
From the pooch that ate an entire Nativity set to the dog who became a “chair” of sorts for a large farm animal, these claims were in a league of their own and deserved special attention.
 
The top pick will receive VPI's Hambone Award and designation as the most unusual claim of the year.
Each year the public will vote for the year’s most unusual claim from among these monthly nominees.

Question: How is my pet nominated to participate in the VPI Hambone Award?

Answer:

Each month, VPI employees select one interesting claim from our policyholder claims submissions as that month’s nominee. All of our nominees are, or were within the last year, a VPI policyholder. If you are interested in VPI, please visit us at petinsurance.com.

Question: What does the winner of the VPI Hambone Award receive as a prize?

Answer:

The winner of the VPI Hambone Award will receive a bronze trophy in the shape of a ham bone.

Question: When was the winner announced?

Answer:

The winner of the 2009 VPI Hambone Award was announced in September 2009, once the votes were tallied.

Question: Who won the 2009 VPI Hambone Award?

Answer:

Lulu, the pacifier-eating English bulldog, is the recipient of the inaugural VPI Hambone Award! Read Lulu's story here.

Lulu and some other VPI Hambone Award nominees were also featured on a segment on the Rachael Ray Show!

Question: When is the next voting period?

Answer:

The voting period for the 2010 VPI Hambone Award will begin in August 2010. Keep checking back for more information.

In the meantime, you can check out all of the 2010 nominees here.

Question: How do I vote? How often can I vote?

Answer:

Voting is easy! Simply select the vote button next to your favorite Hambone nominee and complete the form, then click submit and your vote has been entered for that nominee.

Please note that there is only one vote per person, but be sure to tell your friends so they can vote too!

Question: What kind of tips should I be aware of to reduce the chances of my pet having a Hambone episode?

Answer:

At Veterinary Pet Insurance, we offer all kinds of tips and suggestions on pet care. Please visit our Pet HealthZone to view tips on commonly ingested items, first aid for your pet, pet toxins and poisons, and much more.

VPI is a registered trademark of Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. VPI Hambone Award and the VPI Hambone Award logo are service marks of Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.

Hambone, Hambone Award and VPI Hambone Award are service marks of Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.