Dog eats lottery ticket - will the lottery pay out for their expensive ticket tucker?
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The Oregon Lottery staff have seen it all. Lottery tickets washed in a pair of jeans, dropped in a puddle of mud, and even run over by cars.
But earlier this week they had a first.
The lottery received a letter from Rachael Lamet of Salem with a torn-up ticket and a picture of two dogs.
You guessed right - the dogs ate some of the lottery ticket.
Nathan and Rachael sent the damaged ticket to the Oregon Lottery with a note and a picture of their two Alaskan Klee Kais, named Apple and Jack.
“For some reason we left the ticket on the ottoman and they decided it was delicious,” said Rachael.
“I went to bed and when I woke up it was eaten to the point that I thought it was unable to be checked,” she said.
“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.”
The Lamets have owned the dogs since they were puppies. Apple is 11 months old and Jack is two years old.
The Oregon Lottery sorted all the pieces of the ticket and were able to put the ticket back together.
They soon realized Nathan was right when he thought it was a winner.
Turns out the $3 Pharaoh’s Gold Crossword was an $8 winner for the Lamets.
When they found out they had won, and the check was being mailed to them, they couldn’t believe it was actually a winning ticket.
“That’s too funny,” Rachael said. “We are definitely getting more chew toys, they go through a lot. We love them, but they are crazy sometimes.”
The Oregon Lottery does mail-in claims so players can send in their winning tickets through the mail. Usually these claims are processed and paid within 10 business days.
Rachael Lamet said she had no idea her story would be getting so much publicity:
“I had no idea it would be this big. We didn't know if it was a winner because the ticket got chewed up before we were able to scratch it. So we sent it in to see if they could check it. We also thought the story was cute!”
ABOUT: Oregon Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each game you play, to ensure you can claim any prize you may win.
In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. And above all, they recommend to make sure the ticket is out of reach of any furry friends!
