How my Day is Shaping Up…
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:00 last edited by Renauda
It’s 630 a.m. and I am having a strong, very strong, cup of dark roast black coffee. Taking a break before dealing with the next couple of hours.
Woke up at 5:30 am to the sound of a mad dog barking in the near distance. At first I thought nothing of it until I heard my wife’s pleading voice amidst the din. Quickly went downstairs to see what it was all about. By the time I reached the last step, it became obvious. Skunk.
My wife had gotten up at her usual time, 5:30 to do 40 minutes on the elliptical in the basement. As always the dog was let out into the backyard for a few minutes. This time however there was a skunk at his water dish. Bedlam ensued as the dog pursued said skunk around the fenced patio. You can imagine the rest.
I now have a fouled dog in the garage in the box of my pickup truck. The back landing in the house is a gas chamber. Every window and door on the front of the house is open. It’s still pitch dark for at least another half hour.,
And I know I have a terrified skunk hiding under my back deck.
Yeah I’m having a strong, very strong, black coffee or maybe two before embarking on the rest of what’s starting out to be one not so stellar day.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:13 last edited by
Bad thing about skunk, is I don't know of anybody who has a decent recipe or even eats them. They stink worse than possum when you skin them out.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:13 last edited by
Ouch.
Been there, done that.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:21 last edited by
Seems that the skunk has gone from under the deck. Not 100% sure but there’s nothing rustling around under there now when I stomp around the deck floor as was the case a half hour ago.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:22 last edited by
Oh, man...
Is there any way to keep skunks from trespassing?
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:28 last edited by
As my beloved MIL would say about days like this, "The sign's in the ass.". I have no idea where that came from, or exactly what it refers to, but it applies here.
Good luck, Renauda. A most inauspicious start.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:47 last edited by
Peroxide, baking soda, and dish detergent in a paste. Lather the dog and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. Don’t go longer or you’ll bleach the dogs fur.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:47 last edited by
Repeat as necessary
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:48 last edited by
There are some decent over the counter sprays for the deck and inside the house if airing out doesn’t work, but I wouldn’t use on the dog.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:48 last edited by
That's exactly what I use to clean grout. Not sure I'd use it on a dog.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:54 last edited by
@Mik said in How my Day is Shaping Up…:
That's exactly what I use to clean grout. Not sure I'd use it on a dog.
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/de-skunking-your-dog
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 13:54 last edited by
We had to use it often a few years back…
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 14:40 last edited by
I have used moth balls to keep skunks away, I know too late
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 14:58 last edited by
Skunks. ugh. Sorry to hear you have to deal with this.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 15:22 last edited by
Ugh.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 16:39 last edited by Renauda
As we do a lot of camping we had everything necessary on hand in the event of just this. We never thought that would get it in our backyard. He is now more less decontaminated and back in the truck box to dry out. Will know in an hour or so once he’s dried off a bit more - of course he’s a long haired dog, a Shepard/Collie/Retreiver cross.
Hardest part was cleaning the dried skunk spray off the white vinyl fence. Neutralized it with skunk odour remover then cleaned with Goof Off on a soft cloth rag. Will probably have follow up with a magic eraser as there is still a yellow tinge to the panel.
Pots of boiled 10% cleaning vinegar are dissipating the stink on the back door landing. Not sure what makes me gag more; the skunk smell or the boiling vinegar. The acrid smell of the vinegar at least does not linger once it has stopped steaming. Does the trick though neutralizing the sticky skunk smell.
Thanks all the same for the suggestions and expressions of commiseration. It’s what it is and definitely better than a porcupine.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 18:21 last edited by
@Mik said in How my Day is Shaping Up…:
That's exactly what I use to clean grout. Not sure I'd use it on a dog.
As long as the detergent is Dawn, it's fine. Baby shampoo works, too, but Dawn is better.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 19:27 last edited by Renauda
I used Dawn, Blue Dawn the one with the picture of the duckling on the label.
Seems to have worked pretty well. His head, face and front neck are going to need some more work though. In any case he’ll be sleeping in the box of the truck in the garage for the next 3 nights.
Just finished jamming paving bricks into what appear to be yard access points under the fence. Also went under the deck. Thankfully no sign of a den there. Hopefully this was a one time event. Still, from now on when he is let out at night, we will have check to see first that there is no skunk on the patio. Since the patio area is fenced off from the rest of the back yard the dog is contained to what is essentially a paved dog run.
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 19:37 last edited by
I'm a little surprised the skunk came around with the dog's scent around. I wonder what attracted it. Water maybe?
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wrote on 20 Sept 2023, 19:43 last edited by Renauda
We think so. My wife says the skunk was at his water dish when he came out the door. She thinks the skunk came in near the side gate, as that is exactly where it made a beeline to when the dog beat to quarters. I have now sealed all suspicious possible access points in the area.