A couple have cashed in their lottery winnings - despite their two dogs shredding the ticket into pieces. Nathan and Rachael Lamet, from Salem, Massachusetts, US, sent the damaged ticket to the Lottery with a note and guilty picture of their pooches.
The pair fell lucky when a personnel was able to fit the chewed pieces back together and confirmed their winning numbers. A statement released by the company reads: "Officials at the Oregon Lottery have seen lottery tickets in many different states. Washed in a pair of jeans, dropped in a mud puddle, and even run over by cars. But earlier this week was a first.
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"The Oregon Lottery received a letter with a torn-up ticket and a picture of two dogs. That's right, the dogs ate the lottery ticket."
Alaskan Klee Kias, 11-month-old Apple and two-year-old Jack, have been in the family since they were puppies, and the doggy duo managed to get up to some serious mischief this month.
Rachael Lamet said: "For some reason we left the ticket on the ottoman and they decided it was delicious. I went to bed and when I woke up it was eaten to the point that I thought it was unable to be checked.
"But my husband thought it was hilarious and someone might get a good laugh at at the very least. He said it's for sure a winner."
Staff at Oregon Lottery were able to put the ticket back together like a jigsaw puzzle and soon realised it was worthy of the prize.
The "delicious" £2.50 ($3) Pharaoh's Gold Crossword ticket cashed in more than double its cost - winning Nathan and Rachael £6.64 ($8).
The couple couldn't believe a cheque was actually being sent to them.
Rachael exclaimed: "That's too funny. We are definitely getting more chew toys, they go through a lot. We love them, but they are crazy sometimes."
Official Oregon guidelines state that in order to claim a prize on a damaged or destroyed ticket, the winner must complete a claim form and claim affidavit form.
It must then be submitted "along with any other evidence of the validation attempt that is in the player's possession (including, but not limited to, any slips, receipts or other evidence of play produced by the terminal at the time of the validation attempt) to the Lottery either by mail to the Lottery Mailing Address (registered mail recommended) or in person at the Lottery Headquarters or a Lottery Branch during Lottery business hours."
What unusual things has your dog ate? Get in touch with nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
