Brea, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2011) – Angelo and Janice Donato of Pompton Plains, N.J., never worried that Havee, their hairy-tailed Havanese, would have an altercation with a household appliance. The 4-year-old canine and the Donato’s vacuum had lived together peacefully, until a recent cleaning-spree resulted in an emergency visit to the local animal hospital, subsequently earning his title as the "Most Unusual August Claim” by Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI).
“I was vacuuming the dining room and I stuck my arm under the table to do the rug,” said Angelo. “I couldn’t see what I was doing and didn’t think much about it until Havee suddenly let out a loud yelp and darted out of the room. I had no idea that he had been sleeping under the table!”
Havee showed no signs of injury, but the couple reported that it took a half hour to console their shaken pet. The Donatos initially concluded that Havee was simply startled by his rude awakening. With little certainty about what had actually happened, the couple kept a close eye on their canine companion throughout the afternoon. “Though Havee’s mood had improved since the incident, he still wasn’t acting like himself,” added Angelo. “My wife and I noticed that he wasn’t wagging his tail like he usually does when he’s happy. That’s when we decided to take him to the emergency animal hospital.”
Much to the Donato’s surprise, the attending veterinarian informed them that the bruising around Havee’s tail indicated that it had been run over by the vacuum – an accident that could have had a grave outcome. According to Angelo, the veterinarian reported that if Havee’s tail had become tangled or stuck in the vacuum, it would have likely required amputation. Fortunately for Havee, he was only prescribed medication and plenty of rest.
Although Havee recovered quickly from his injury, Angelo admits that he is much more careful about household chores these days. “Since Havee was a puppy, we were aware of the common illnesses and injuries that can potentially affect him, but I never thought that an accident like this could happen,” said Angelo. “It’s so important for pet owners to constantly be aware of their surroundings, especially when they are busy or in a hurry. I’m definitely more mindful about my actions and how they can affect Havee, and I hope other pet parents will do the same.”
Havees’s vacuum incident was one of more than 80,000 claims received in the month of August by VPI, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, and was selected by employees as the most unusual of the bunch. Honorable mentions in August included a toy poodle treated for a poison ivy reaction on its tongue, a golden retriever bitten on the nose by a skunk, a mixed breed dog exposed to tear gas, another golden retriever shot with a pellet gun, and a Belgian Malinois that jumped from a two-story window. All pets considered for the award made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursements for eligible expenses.
As the most unusual claim submitted in August, Havee is the second of the 2012 VPI Hambone Award nominees, for which voting will take place in September 2012. Voting for the 2011 VPI Hambone Award, which includes nominees from July 2010 to June 2011, is open to the public Sept. 6-20, 2011 and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Stories and pictures of the Hambone Award nominees are at www.VPIHamboneAward.com.
Note to editors: Digital images of Havee are available upon request. Send requests to ncross@petinsurance.com
About VPI Hambone Award
The VPI 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 rescue him. The dog was eventually found, with a licked-clean ham bone and a mild case of hypothermia. This quirky title was first awarded in 2009 to Lulu, a hungry bulldog who swallowed 15 baby pacifiers, a bottle cap and piece of a basketball. The VPI Hambone Award and these unusual pet insurance claims have since helped educate the public about the unexpected mishaps that can affect household pets. Stories and pictures of the VPI Hambone Award nominees are available at VPIHamboneAward.com.
About Veterinary Pet Insurance
With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the No. 1 veterinarian-recommended pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education.VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional CareGuard® for routine care is also available.
Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,000 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.