From the Woodshed: Got Skunk?

It was a beautiful day for a walk in the hills behind our house. The spring weather is beautiful, cool but warm enough to be comfortable. The smell of fresh mountain air, laden with the fragrance of new growth, sagebrush, pine, and wild flowers, birds singing everywhere.

Kim and I collared the dogs, and headed up the road toward the Grieve's house. As is the usual routine, the dogs began their stalk (usually of nothing) at the gate into the old France homestead. Yup, nothing today either. We crossed A-23, and headed up the cemetery road, the dogs ranging ahead. "Want to take the long loop today?" Kim asked me. "Let's do it" I replied. It was a fateful decision.

We strode up the road panting harder as it steepened. At the Cemetery, we cut north along our usual trail, Kim talking and me listening (mostly). down over the next ridge we went, and began to climb the long ridge that points like a finger between our house and Grieve's. I followed Kim as she picked her way through the rocks. We ducked over the top, through a small grove of mountain mahogany, and down toward Eve's old hose further north, it was downhill all the way from here...cool down time.

All of a sudden it sounded like a fight was breaking out between the dogs. A quick snarl, a yelp, and here comes Delta leaping backwards toward me over some sage brush. "Something's not right here", I thought. Then I saw it. There sticking out of the sagebrush 30 feet ahead of me, a bushy black and white tail twitched frantically, as Delta surged back for another attempt. "Skunk!" Kim cried out! "Delta!, Delta! Come" I hollered. She came reluctantly, whining and rubbing her face in the dirt and brush as she came. "Remi!, get over here!!" Seemed like the little dog was a little too curious.

I finally got both dogs under control, as I watched the black and white tail speed off through the sage. The smell was tremendous. I could actually taste the Sulphorus stink it was so strong. It made our eyes water.

We rapidly retreated back up the hill, Delta spending half the time writhing on her back in a frantic, rolling attempt to get the stink off. Remi would come along behind and roll in the spots Delta had rubbed, trying to freshen up her own sent. We took a direct route toward home.

Along the way, Kim and I discussed various options for de-skunking the dog (seemed Remi was virtually stink free). Tomato juice, vinegar? These were folk remedies we had heard of before. We decided to Google a remedy that would be most effective. We found a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide, baking soda, and dish detergent recommended.

After arriving home, I chained the dogs under the tree and mixed up the de-skunking formula.

"Smelta" wasn't too happy about the bath. We put her in a
hunting jacket so she wouldn't get chilled.

Delta wasn't to happy about her bath, but I scrubbed and rubbed for probably 20 minutes. After rinsing and
drying, we tied the dogs up on the deck in the sun for a little ventilation. We let them stay outside for the rest of the day, but next night we were able to bring them both in the house for their evening in the chair. The formula worked great! Almost no skunk smell was noticeable. Needless to say, it was about four days before we took the "long loop" again. Wanted to make sure Mr. Skunk had moved on through!