I don’t have a picture of the skunk that sprayed my dogs yesterday morning, but frankly, I don’t think any of the party involved really want a permanent image to keep that memory going on and on. The skunk lived, and so did my dogs. And the stench surrounding and lingering inside our abode markedly designates it as the “house of shame.”
It happened at 6 in the morning. I’d known a skunk had been visiting us for a few days — first because the birdfeeder was getting emptied at night, and then because in an insomniatic moment, I got up one night and actually observed said skunk at the sideyard feeder (oh my gosh let it not be a completely different skunk). To avoid a potential problem, I began to make sure the feeder was empty in the late p.m. — completely forgetting about the feeder in the backyard, because most mammals, except those quick and nimble squirrels, rarely are foolish enough to enter the Dog Domain (yeah, who was really the fool here?).
Then this morning in a groggy state of mind, I let the dogs out into the dark to find their bladder relief, and instead they found a skunk. Chaos ensued. I don’t really need to give more detail on that one, I’m sure. But oh the morning I had. Three dogs sprayed. One small house. Everyone else in the family abandoning me as soon as possible. Me, utilizing my own concoction of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, dishwasher detergent, dog shampoo, and peppermint castille soap. Three baths later, they still stank, and now so did I.
Turn the page to the afternoon. I’m sitting in a 4-hour conference, getting occasional (albeit faint) whiffs of skunk. As much as I wanted to apologize to everyone around me for smelling so offensive, assuming I did, I stayed silent, hoping instead that each person would maybe blame someone other than me, or at the very least, just have no idea who brought the stench to the conference (I seriously hope that I was simply being overly worried and not actually as bad as I feared). I sat there feeling like PigPen in a cloud of not dust but little stinky molecules. If I could smell it periodically, then in my mind it had to be so much worse for the others around me. The next day’s agenda? An all-day meeting trapped in one small room with a few others to interview several candidates for a job. Great.
Here’s the thing. I don’t blame the skunk. I hope it’s okay. I do hope, as well, that maybe it learned a lesson about my backyard. But the drought has really made all sorts of animals venture to places they might normally avoid, all in an effort to find food and water. And we had both here. I really don’t mind the occasional odd critter here — in fact, normally I’m downright excited about the latest species. But did it have to be a SKUNK? Ah well, it will only take months to get the stink out of this house and our dogs. Hopefully not so long for me.
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Tomato juice, or an acidic thing, apple cider vinegar, etc, works great on the stench. We have had lots of experience….Lovely post nonetheless!
P.K. Willey recently posted..Wisdom Cannot be used for Profit – Holy Mother Amma
Years ago we tried both canned tomato juice and fresh tomatoes on our dogs, who’d been sprayed out at the family ranch. We were desperate to get the skunk oils off them, as we had a brand new car. We did manage to turn our yellow lab pink, but we ended up putting sheets all over the car to help protect it from the smell that remained on the dogs. I might go get some fresh tomatoes, just the same — the husky’s skunk smell is still very potent. I’m quite willing to smush tomatoes all over his head!
Yep, tomato juice. Remember that from my childhood .. our dog got skunked & spent hours in the garage in a babybath full of tomato juice.. but it worked. Hope you “smell” better tomorrow.. Good advice though: “be aware that drought might make creatures venture into unusual places”
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Pitter Patter.. First Rain for Topanga this Season
Read your post and must tell you that I have recently shared your experience with my dog, a standard collie with a double coat who was sprayed in the area of her neck where, naturally, the hair is the thickest. Also like you, I used the baking soda, peroxid, mixture, and I do believe it to be the best remedy. For the house, I used Febreze candles and they helped tremendously. I am very cautious when I let my dogs out anymore, even tho my backyard is fenced in. We have had more “visitors” just this past wee as a matter of fact, so be careful.
Pat, the skunk was already back again last night. Either it didn’t learn its lesson, or we’ve been dealing with two skunks. Eep!
I know your frustration all too well. Unfortunately, when a skunk finds a reliable food source, they will return daily as if on a schedule or milk run. We now bring in our bird feeders every night to prevent them, or raccoons who they’ll also tussle with, from thinking there’s an easy meal to be had. It’s kind of a hassle, but much easier than cleaning up after another spraying. I wish you luck!
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Oh Meredith I was sorry to hear this the other day. I have been lucky to avoid any encounter such as this although my husband was in jeopardy a few times as he chased skunks from the yard. We had a family of almost pure white skunks in the area and yard. They were living beneath a neighbors shed. They were trapped and then let out in a wild area. We have many problems in our area with rabid skunks so it was best to move them so their was no danger to pets and children. I love how you just still went on with your plans and life.
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FYI: remote re-release of wild animals is not a good practice – in general, the animals have a 75% chance of dying alone, hungry and afraid. Too many people don’t know this, and think that they are helping, so please spread the word.
hmmm, everyone is offering tips and sympathy.
Having read your story, I don’t mean to laugh at your expense, Meredith, but…..
HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
I love the prose, but I too am sorry for your experience. And, of course the skunk was back….you probably now smell HEAVENLY to him!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..The Sulphur Butterfly Emerged Already!
Loret! Actually, you’d be laughing again because my big stinky husky is being particularly needy now, wanting to rest his stinky head on my arm or in my lap, wanting extra loving, which of course makes me stinky all over again. At least now I can legitimately refer to him as a stinker, that little (big) stinker.
give your doggie a tomato juice bath! he will be so grateful! Instant relief.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Pitter Patter.. First Rain for Topanga this Season
Oh Meredith how unpleasant for you and the pups! I do agree with Loret, you’re prose is wonderful. gail
PS Since commentluv never works for me I am trying hyperlinking! Visit Willow Leaf Sunflower
Tomato juice works to some extent but skunk is a odor that lingers and returns when the dogs get wet. As for the house contact your local fire department to see if they have an ozone smoke remover that they will let you use. I’ve heard that some Great horned owls love the aroma of skunk and prefer them as food. Gosh that’s worse than stinky cheese.
Becky recently posted..Autumn Metamorphosis
Hilarious! What a crack up. Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you but I can just imagine how it went down and I’ve never seen a skunk before in my life (other than on tv!)
I can’t offer up any advice but I can say you made my day. That’s a story that can be told again and again!
Penny Whitehouse recently posted..Puppet Play — Australian Animals
Oh dearie me….at least it wasn’t YOUR job interview Meredith! I really feel for you – this is my worst nightmare, with 2 dogs (one with a thick collie coat) and complete indiscrimination for what they chase. Here’s hoping that your dogs will have learned a lesson from this, but I’m guessing probably not
My next door neighbor has a nest of skunks under his deck. You never use lattice to finish a deck bottom without chicken wire behind it. Anyway, my dogs get skunked every year because of dead wood next door. This year my airedale killed an adolescent skunk. It sprayed but the dogs did not get any. The house was filled with the smell when we had to let the dogs in though. I used organic citrus spray and it eliminated the smell. Never feed the birds if you have skunks – I eliminated my feeders but I keep water all year long for the birds. Also, if you have skunks, never let the dogs out dusk or dawn. I lock my door at dusk but I make sure the dogs have been out before that. Some day strong smelling soap bars at gates or fence openings works, but chicken wire under the fence and below ground works best. Block all openings if you have a fence.