Stunned woman wins lottery jackpot by 'fluke' while her dog is visiting the vets
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A woman got extremely lucky while her dog was being examined at the vets and left £65,000 richer. Jacqueline Attfield, from Ontario, Canada, US, wanted to "kill some time" instead of waiting and went to a local shop to buy a lottery ticket.
It was by complete "fluke" that she managed to scoop the jackpot and didn't even realise she had won when it first happened. The retiree, who has been playing the lottery for more than 35 years, was stunned to discover she had won $100,000 - all while her pet was being checked.
Jacqueline recalled noticing the screen appeared different to usual, but initially thought it was a far smaller win.
She said: "I took a closer look and thought I won $1,000, but after looking again, I noticed it said 'Big Winner' and saw the actual amount."
The lucky winner matched six of the seven Encore numbers in exact order for the July 23 Ontario Lottario draw, successfully bagging her £65,000 prize.
While visiting the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings, she told officials that she plans to use the cash to pay off some bills, buy a new car and put the rest in the bank for a rainy day.
Jacqueline added: "I love the Instant games. Purchasing this ticket was a fluke. I was killing some time at the store while taking my dog to the vet."
Another 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.
"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."
The "delicious" £2.50 ($3) Pharaoh's Gold Crossword ticket cashed in more than double its cost - winning Nathan and Rachael £6.64 ($8).
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
