Our annual Wacky Pet Name celebration highlights the wackiest, funniest and most fantastic pet names that our members come up with.
This year, we selected 30 of the absolute wackiest of the wackiest names from the hundreds of thousands of new pets enrolled with Nationwide in 2023. Our fan favorites and top vote getters included Molly from Corporate (a mixed-breed dog), Tony "Scarface" Baloney (a domestic shorthair cat) and Thor Odinbun, God of Bunder (an iguana—just kidding, he’s a Holland lop bunny). Our winners received prizes that include a photo shoot and a custom canvas portrait of their pet.
But why did these pet parents choose pet insurance in the first place? We asked them for their insight on the value of pet insurance and why they chose Nationwide®.
Peace of mind protection
Maybe the most common refrain we heard from our Wacky Pet Name pet parents: Pet insurance offers peace of mind by ensuring their pets receive the care they need to live happy, healthy lives.
“The peace of mind I receive knowing that there’s financial support in place for potential emergencies is unmatched,” says Silmi, pet parent of Thor Odinbun and a Nationwide member since 2023. It’s no surprise that Silmi, who entered the bunny-naming process with more than 600 quirky pet names to choose from, was thorough about making the right decision. “It's worth just feeling better knowing if something happens to your pet, you don't have to make a really scary decision.”
That’s also why Nationwide offers members more support options to aid in decision making. From 24/7 veterinary telehealth—included in all plans—to Nationwide’s ease of use, our members know that we have their back if the unexpected happens. Best of all, members can choose any vet, including emergency care facilities, specialists and your own family veterinarian. Coverage is available for dogs, cats and exotic pets, including small mammals, birds and reptiles.
Saving more
It comes as no surprise that quick and easy reimbursement are among the more paw-pular aspects of Nationwide pet insurance plans. Many of our Wacky Pet Name pet parents started looking for pet insurance to save money on veterinary expenses.
With the cost of veterinary care rising at a rate that outpaces inflation, the unmatched customization and pricing flexibility offered by Nationwide pet insurance plans—plus added features like multi-pet discounts and savings on pet prescriptions from Nationwide PetRxExpress®—can make a big difference.
“I’ve been in situations previously where you spend so much money at the vet even for regular checkups,” says Chloe B., pet parent to a sassy mixed-breed toy pup named Boots with the Fur. “It’s just difficult when you have a family to provide for as well.”
Those costs only increase when you have an unconventional pet: “Guinea pigs are classified as exotic animals, and therefore have much higher vet costs,” says Sharmeen M. and Matt W., pet parents of Cowpig. “[Nationwide pet insurance has] honestly been a huge help, especially because of the mounting vet costs we had recently when both of our guinea pigs were very sick.”
Work perks
No small number of Nationwide members have signed up for pet insurance as part of their voluntary benefits package at work. For pet parents, it’s a no-brainer: Employee-only My Pet Protection plans are easy to sign up for and come with added features that are just for employees, including emergency boarding coverage, lost pet funds and more.
Tyler W., pet parent of friendly farm pup and 2024 canine winner Molly from Corporate, took advantage of easy signup options available at his job. He couldn’t be happier about that choice. “[Pet insurance] was offered through my employer and I knew [Molly] well enough to know that we would want to get that for this dog in particular—she'll chew on bricks for just funsies.”
In fact, more than a third of our Wacky Pet Name nominees this year were protected by an employee pet insurance plan. It’s also easy to see why pet parents’ employers offered Nationwide pet insurance—research suggests that pet-owning employees at companies that offer pet insurance tend to be happier and more engaged on the job. Pet insurance: Not just great for pets and their pet families. Who knew?
Easy to use
Unlike human health insurance, pet insurance never requires a pre-approval to get treatment. Simply get the care your pet needs, then file a claim—you’ll get cash back for eligible vet bills after your deductible is paid. That’s it!
“There's a lot of flexibility and customization that allowed me to select a plan that fits our needs,” says Mike T., pet parent to feline phenom Meownnaise and a Nationwide member since 2023. “Also, the ease of the claims process is another standout feature of Nationwide; the submission process was very straightforward and user-friendly, which was a huge bonus for me.”
With added features like easy digital claims and direct deposit reimbursements, getting reimbursement has never been easier.
Mindy H., pet parent to a tasty morsel of a pup named Mr. Pizza Puff, adds: “[Nationwide] makes filing claims so easy.”
Plus, if you have any questions about your coverage, our member care team is just a call away. If only all insurance was this easy to use!
Why Nationwide?
Nationwide pet insurance has more than 40 years of experience in the pet insurance industry. Currently, we protect more than 1.1 million pets across the United States. Several Wacky Pet parents said that makes them confident they can trust us in uncertain times.
“My little boy means the world to me,” says Damien A., pet dad to ice-cold feline favorite Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator. “I knew I could count on Nationwide to assist in keeping him happy and healthy.”
Many others signed up with Nationwide based on the experiences of friends and family.
“I have a friend who's had a cat with cancer and a very old dog, and they talk nothing but the best about Nationwide and the people there that helped them,” adds Kyle and Dora R., pet parents of Car Alarm, a feline nominee who fits his uniquely loud and boisterous name.
Pets are family
One thing that connects all our nominees is the way they see pets as a part of the family. They may have chosen funny names for their cats, dogs and exotic pets, but each of these pet parents takes caring for their pet seriously.
Above all else, a love of pets is the reason our members choose Nationwide.
“I want to protect this furball from any chaos he might construct,” says Alisha C., pet parent of Necronomicat. “He is quite precious to my family.”
Jesse M. adds, about their beloved golden retriever: “Lord Waddles is an important and loved member of our family! We want to help keep him happy, healthy and strong for many years to come.”
All of our Wacky Pet Name nominees are protected from the unexpected like any other member of the family.
“My dogs are my babies,” Amethyst A., pet parent of an American Staffordshire terrier named Team “The Bandit” Player, puts it.
Learn more about our coverage at petinsurance.com.
