The recently ‘skunked’ Ellie and the hand that feeds her (Dr. Ann)
This is not a funny story to me. I use to laugh a little when it happened to others. In addition to the waterfowl, and many beautiful birds, Clark Lake residents and Spirit Trail travelers are treated to a large variety of animals. They often see, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, deer, and an occasional fox.
Nocturnal creatures, like raccoons, opossums, and skunks are running around our yards and the trail every night. Unless you are out in early morning, or late night, you miss seeing them. Earlier this week, something caused a skunk to spray very close to my kitchen windows. It was so close and pungent, it had polluted the house before I could close the windows. A few days later, on my walk with my dog Ellie, I kept smelling that skunk smell ahead of me.
I finally bent down and discovered the horrible news. Ellie got a full face and chest shot. I don’t know if it was the same skunk or not. They all smell alike to me. Anyway, when I was a practicing veterinarian, I used to sell these unfortunate clients a product called “Skunk-Off”. I hadn’t used it myself, but took the word of the manufacturer. People said it didn’t help. They tried tomato juice, and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish detergent.
This was a formula I had read somewhere, and all I had available to use before Ellie could come in the house. IT DOSEN’T WORK. That and two baths later, my poor Ellie still smells, especially after swimming. Are there any new suggestions out there, for a retired veterinarian to try, and pass along?
-Ann Clark
Note-Ann Clark is a retired doctor of veterinary medicine who practiced in the area for many years.
