Lost in the Sierras for 72 Days, Milo Bear Wins 2026 Hambone Award

Milo’s ordeal began when a sudden noise startled him during a mountain trip, causing the dog to bolt up a cross-country ski trail and disappear. For 72 days, the golden retriever remained missing until a microchip scan at a local shelter finally alerted his family to his location. Though severely underweight, Milo was otherwise physically unscathed and fully recovered following four days of professional veterinary care.

Nationwide’s Chief Veterinary Officer Emily Tincher noted that the dog’s survival highlights both canine resilience and the necessity of emergency pet coverage. The public selected Milo as the winner from nine finalists after more than 11,000 votes were cast between August 3 and August 14. The runners-up included Henry, a Colorado Labrador who suffered a paw injury from a garden rake, and Hobbes, an Arizona cat that survived a close encounter with a closing garage door. The annual award traces its name to a historical incident involving a dog that became trapped inside a refrigerator while consuming an entire holiday ham.