Golden retriever rescued after 72 days lost in the mountains wins 2026 Nationwide Hambone Award

Milo Bear, a golden retriever from Nevada, spent 72 days lost in the mountains near Lake Tahoe before a microchip scan at an animal shelter led to his reunion with his family. Because of this, Milo Bear has been named the winner of the 18th annual Nationwide Hambone Award, which recognizes an unusual pet insurance claim.¹

Milo disappeared during a holiday outing after being startled by a car horn and bolting up a snowy trail. His family searched for weeks, distributing thousands of flyers and following reported sightings through deep snow, but were unable to find him.

The breakthrough came when a shelter scanned Milo’s microchip. He was extremely thin after more than 2 months on his own but was otherwise uninjured. After 4 days receiving veterinary care at a hospital, Milo returned home to his family.

A remarkable return home

Milo’s recovery story was 1 of 9 finalists considered for this year’s Hambone Award. Nationwide held a public vote from August 3 to 14, with more than 11,000 votes cast.

“The joy of being reunited with a beloved pet after weeks of uncertainty is hard to put into words,” said Emily Tincher, DVM, chief veterinary officer at Nationwide. “Milo's journey reflects the determination of his family, his own incredible resilience, and the importance of getting pets the care they need when the unexpected happens. Stories like his are exactly what the Hambone Awards were created to celebrate.”

The award is named after a Nationwide-insured dog that became trapped inside a refrigerator after eating an entire holiday ham. The dog was later found with mild hypothermia, with only the hambone remaining from his feast.¹

Runners-up had similarly harrowing ordeals

The contest also recognized 2 runners-up.

Henry, a Labrador retriever from Colorado, injured his paw after chasing a ball into a yard cleanup area and impaling it on a rake prong. After receiving care, he recovered and returned to chasing tennis balls.

Hobbes, a domestic shorthair cat from Arizona, became trapped when he slipped into a garage as the door was closing. He made it past the door’s safety sensors but not the door itself. After treatment, Hobbes recovered and returned to his normal activities.

Reference

1. Nationwide. Golden retriever Milo Bear wins the 2026 Hambone Award. Published August 17, 2026. Accessed August 19, 2026. https://www.petinsurance.com/hamboneaward/news/Nationwide-2026-Hambone-Award-winner/