Bizarre animal antics topped the more unusual insurance claims in 2006, Norwich Union revealed today.From swarms of bees and fighting bulls, to dogs with a penchant for false teeth – these were just some of the incidents last year involving our four-legged friends which landed homeowners and motorists in a spot of bother.The insurer has compiled a list of the top ten most bizarre claims received in the past 12 months:
1. “I parked in a country lane beside a hedge, when I returned to the vehicle, two horses had chewed my car”
2. “A deer dived through my closed kitchen window.” (the deer survived)
3. “My young granddaughter accidentally fed my false teeth to the dog who promptly chewed them to shreds before I could retrieve them.”
4. “I was taking my hamster to the vet only to realise that when I arrived there, it had chewed through my handbag and escaped.”
5. “A deer headbutted the windscreen of my car, after being enticed by the yellow tax disc”
6. “My sandal was chewed by a fox at a friend's barbeque”
7. “Three bulls escaped from the farm next door and ended up fighting in our garden, destroying the garden fence and trellis in the process.”
8. “A swarm of bees flew down my chimney causing clouds of soot to fly all over the living room”
9. “A sheep jumped into me on the farm, causing my glasses to break.”
10. “We think Big Bird must have flown into our patio door causing it to smash!”
Jason Harris, senior claims manager at Norwich Union, said: “Our annual review of claims shows the weird and wacky incidents that can happen unexpectedly. Whilst some of these claims may cause a smile its worth remembering that at the time some of the events were probably quite traumatic. “This list though highlights the diversity of claims made by Norwich Union customers, and emphasises its not just flood, fire and theft that insurance can provide cover for.”
