Skunk - 2, Chicken Mama - 1

Notice what time I'm writing this, will you?

I got home late tonight, a little before midnight.  I was purdy darn tired and ready to tumble into bed, but the reason (even after leaving work at a decent hour) was a good one:  my folks and I had a spontaneous & lovely 2-hour chat / catch-up over a bottle of vino.


So, why the extra late hour now?  Well, you did read the title of this post, didn't you?

During the usual flurry of 22 legs entering and exiting the door all at once upon my arrival (2 dogs, 3 cats, 1 human), and after my 2nd load from the truck (car's waiting to get into the doctor), I scooped Annie Blue up to give her some love.  The smell of her fur is one of my most favorites in the world:  it smells like clean (not wet!) wool.  Burying my nose into the scruff of her neck, I smelled a light but particularly identifiable smell.  "Ohhh, sh*t."  I dropped her down and rushed to the door . . . to find Tucker skooching his face all over the yard.  Sh*t, sh*t, SH*T!  

Okay, think!  Tomato juice?  Nope, Clamato.  Nottttt the same.  Wait, do I still have . . . YES, I did!  The bottle of de-skunk stuff I'd bought a couple of years ago was right where it should be with all the other animal ointments and sprays.  

Now, me!  Okay, out of your clothes!  Grabbed an old pair of Tom's shorts & a T-shirt that could be thrown away.

Now, grab Tucker.  (Skunk must surely be long gone by now.)  Liberally douse Tucker and rub, rub, rub the stuff in and down to his skin (muttering out loud about how happy I was that I'd had him shaved not too long ago).  Where did the skunk get him?  Oh!  RIGHT!  That dripping stream of green right there on the side of his neck!  Of course!

Okay, Maisy?  Get in the house!  

And there she was at the door waiting like a good dog, smiling . . . green skunk juice dripping off her nose.  Of course.

Note to self:  skunk is NOT yet gone.  

Where are the other three animals?  Riiiight, still outside.  Of course.

Liberally apply de-skunking agent to Maisy, wondering when the *#@! the neutralizing agents will kick in?!

Walk into the sunroom and notice how STRONG the smell is in there!  What the?!  Did the damn thing spray the HOUSE?

"Maisy & Tucker, STAY in the house!"  Armed in my T-shirt and shorts (did I mention that it's barely above 40 out?) and a flashlight, I go exploring.  Underneath the trees juuust outside the sunroom window, I hear a rustle.  YEP, there you are, you little . . . !  Ohhh, and look, there's Bonzi, two feet in front of you, hissing at you with her hair on end.

"Sssst, sst!  Bonzi!  Come!"

Fortunately, since I treat / train cats the same way as I do dogs (I know no other way!), she does.  Okay, back 'round the house and toss her inside.

Out and around the house to the big deck again, and there's Dosie, taking up where her big sister left off!  "Dosie?  Come!"  Second cat in house, check.  Where's Annie Blue?  I dunno, but I have bigger fish to fry!  (Besides, I'd like to think she's a little more "traveled" and world-wise than the two little ones.)

Back inside for my "take care of the situation" equipment, and a quick, "Sorry*, little guy," and that was that.  (Which is a little ironic considering what he/she had just done, but still, a life is a life.)

Anyway, that was the fattest skunk I have ever seen!  I actually palpitated its stomach to see if there were babies in there (although it's the wrong time of the year for that), but nuthin', fortunately.  However, the fact that it didn't skeedaddle DOES worry me a little . . . although it did look extremely healthy - very white teeth and all.  But, skunks do carry rabies, don't they?  Tucker is due for his rabies shot in mid October and Maisy's has already lapsed.  Annnnd, Maisy did have a 1/4" piece of skin taken off the end of her nose.  Hmm.  Yuck.  I'll probably call the local vet (even tho I can hardly stand the idiot, and the lack of admiration seems to be county-wide) tomorrow to run the situation by her to see what she recommends.  (Haven't YET gotten my passport renewed so haven't gotten the animals to their regular & EXCELLENT vet who is in Canada.)  And, I'll save the skunk:  it can be checked for rabies, if necessary.


I almost wonder if one of the dogs injured it and that's why it wasn't running away, but there weren't any obvious injuries.  I'll examine it better tomorrow (today) - doing so tonight wasn't terribly high on my list of to-dos.

I'll think I'll try to drown my pillow in essential oil tonight and try to sleep.  Or puke.  It's a toss-up.  You wouldn't BELIEVE what this house smells like.


(Pictures tomorrow.)