I am On Your Side ®
Steve Uhlman | Sponsor Relations Sales Manager
Nearly Buried Alive - Pooch Rescued
I am On Your Side ®
_________________________________________________________________________
Steve Uhlman | Sponsor Relations Sales Manager
Nationwide Insurance 614-332-4945 uhlmas @ nationwide . com
A scuffle with a skunk left Peanut , a dachshundterrier mix , in a stinky situation .
Peanut ’ s owners , Keith and Christy Wolfram of Sicklerville , N . J ., said Peanut has been known to chase four-legged intruders through small openings beneath the deck , but this battle was unlike any other .
They were scared when they discovered the skunk had buried Peanut alive in the dirt beneath their deck .
After hours of searching and several holes in their deck later , first responders said they did everything they could , but Christy hadn ’ t given up hope yet .
“ 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 .”
With Peanut barely breathing and reeking of skunk musk , firefighters administered oxygen . Keith and Christy then rushed their furry friend to a 24-hour animal emergency facility . About a week and a half later , Peanut made a full recovery — which was more than the Wolfram ’ s could say for their deck .
Nearly a year later , Peanut ’ s close call has turned into victory . Peanut is the winner of the 2012 Veterinary Pet Insurance Co . ( VPI ) Hambone
Award .
With more than 485,000 pet ’ s insured , VPI is the nation ’ s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance and member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies . VPI created the Hambone award to help educate the public about the unexpected mishaps that befall household pets .
“ Peanut is a perfect example of a dachshundterrier mix , 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 f o r VPI . “ He was just doing what comes instinctively . Peanut and all the 2012 VPI Hambone Award nominees illustrate the unpredictable nature of our pets , and the responsibility we have as pet owners to be prepared for the unexpected .”
Peanut was selected as one of 12 nominees chosen from more than 1 million claims VPI receives annually . They were considered among
6 West Virginia Farm Bureau News