THE HAMBONE AWARDS

Nationwide Pet Insurance has announced the finalists for its 17th annual Hambone Award, which highlights the most unusual events leading to surprise veterinary visits for pets. Fans can vote for their favorite nominees on the Hambone Award website until Aug. 12. This year’s finalists include:
– Ziya, a Belgian malinois from California, who was kicked in the face by an angry bull while protecting his family from the bovine.
– Wash, a Tennessee mixed-breed dog, who ate too many cicadas from his family’s yard.
– California Yorkie Ozi, who chewed up a TV remote and was suspected of swallowing the battery, which was later found safely underneath the couch.
– Maddie, a bulldog in Virginia, who ate a taxidermied alligator.
– Foxtrot, a Texas Great Dane, who grabbed a turkey leg out of the tongs in her owner’s hand and swallowed it whole.
– An Ohio lab mix named Duke who swallowed an entire spatula head while licking peanut butter.
– A New Jersey golden retriever named Boone who grabbed a piece of too-hot grilled chicken that ended up burning his mouth — and then choked on the bone.
Nationwide said all of the nominees have since made full recoveries.
* …whether they deserved to or not.
* I’m shocked! One of these stories is NOT about a dog eating something!
* Foxtrot the Great Dane swallowed a turkey leg whole. Scooby-Doo would be proud.
* Face it: dogs are the only pets that come with a self-destruct button.