Brea, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2011) – Around 2:30 a.m., first responders from the Winslow Township Fire Department in Sicklerville, NJ apologized to Keith Wolfram and his wife Christy – they had done everything they could. Refusing to give up, Christy grabbed a shovel and continued to search for their dachshund-terrier mix Peanut, who had become buried in the dirt beneath their deck after wrangling with a skunk. What started off as common quarrel evolved into a remarkable tale, earning Peanut the title of "Most Unusual Claim of the Month” by Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI).
According to Keith, his dogs have had a number of disagreements with local wildlife. Peanut especially has been known to chase four-legged intruders through small openings beneath the deck in their backyard. This battle was unlike any other, however, and left Peanut buried alive in the dirt beneath their deck. After hours of searching, and several holes in Wolfram’s deck later, Christy hadn’t given up hope.
“When the firefighters saw Christy continue to dig, one of them decided to take a last look,” said Keith. “I remember him shouting, ‘I see her paw!’ and my heart just sank. By the time they got her out she was barely moving. I couldn’t believe she was alive.”
The firefighters administered oxygen to Peanut and advised Keith and Christy to get her to a veterinarian, fast. With Peanut barely breathing and reeking of skunk musk, the Wolfram’s rushed their companion to a 24-hour animal emergency facility. She was treated for hypothermia and kept under veterinary care for two days. After about a week and a half, Peanut made a full recovery – which was more than the Wolfram’s could say for their deck.
“As a dachshund-terrier mix, Peanut is a combination of two tenacious breeds that were created to hunt game by digging animals out of their burrows and dens,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “It’s important for pet owners to familiarize themselves with the natural tendencies of their pet’s breed in order to prepare for potential dangers that can occur as a result of their instinctual behaviors.”
Peanut’s incident was one of more than 80,000 claims received in the month of October by VPI, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, and was selected by VPI employees as the most unusual of the bunch. Honorable mentions in October included a Labrador puppy that cut its paw on the blade of a food processor; a golden retriever that suffered multiple stings after taking a nap on an insects’ nest; and a Yorkshire terrier that wrestled with a javelina. All pets considered for the award made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursements for eligible expenses.
As the most unusual claim submitted in October, Peanut will be in the running for the 2012 VPI Hambone Award. Other nominees include Havee the Havaneese who had his tail run over by a vacuum cleaner and Kei the Shiba Inu who got his nails caught on the grate of an escalator. For more information about the VPI Hambone Award, or to read about all of the 2012 nominees, visit www.VPIHamboneAward.com.
Note to editors: Digital images of Peanut 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 English bulldog who swallowed 15 baby pacifiers, a bottle cap and a 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® coverage is available for routine care.
Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,500 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as a voluntary 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, Wis. 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.