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SkunkHaven.Net is our Domestic Skunk Care and
Rescue site. We own and operate SkunkHaven™ Shelter. We are a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt corporation. |
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We are an international rescue and assistance group that will help anyone with their pet skunks. If you need advice or can not care for your skunk any longer please call or email us for help. We have our APHIS-USDA license and Ohio permits for transport and dealer activities. We have contacts in many areas that can help you!
We are dedicated to collecting and distributing information on proper dietary health, medical treatments, and traditional and non-traditional recuperative processes.
All of these efforts cost money, we are not funded by the government. Even one dollar helps buy food for the skunks. All money will go toward skunks, medical supplies, food, bedding, toys, vet bills, etc.
Please HELP keep the shelter alive by donating something. We are always in need of supplies and other items for the shelter.
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Contact us if you have a pet skunk that you can no longer care for.
would you like to adopt a pet skunk? You can view skunks that are available for adoption here. We have members and associates throughout the US, Canada, and several European countries, and can provide direct support and assistance in almost all cases.
THIS WEBSITE IS GEARED TO THE BETTERMENT OF CAPTIVE BORN DOMESTIC PET SKUNKS. TAKING ANY ANIMAL OUT OF THE WILD IS ILLEGAL AND HAS THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO DIEASES.
Warning > Never let anyone touch or pet your captive born domesticated skunk or allow any of their pets near your skunk. If medical attention is needed, doctors and hospital staff are required to report bites by exotic pets to the local health department. This even means if the owner of the captive born pet skunk or family member gets bit!!!! This may lead to your skunk being seized and euthanized to be tested for rabies. There is no quarantine period. Although there are no cases of our pet captive skunks having rabies, people who do not own captive born skunks still assume the worst.
Banfield Animal Hospital at the PetSmart10136 Two Notch Road Suite 109CColumbia, South Carolina 29229-4399(803) 462-1076Do NOT let anyone pet your animals.What they do is want to pet your animal What they do not disclose is if it bites them, they will have to call the Health Department. Most times the animal will be KILLED. |
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written by Hannah Miller
May 8, 2012
On Wednesday May 2, 2012 I took my domestic pet skunk Flower to the PetSmart at 10136 Two Notch Road in Columbia, South Carolina. I was there with my boyfriend, Harvey, to buy Flower some new toys. As we were walking through the store we were approached by a female employee of the Bainfield Pet Hospital. She was admiring Flower and she asked if she could show her veterinarian. I thought that she was a veterinary technician and I felt comfortable with letting her hold Flower. However, before she held Flower, Harvey asked, “What would you do if Flower bites you?” Her response was “It is no big deal we get bit all of the time, we are used to it.” By then several other Bainfield employees approached, agreed that they get bit all of the time and it was no big deal. In addition, we joked with the employee that Flower needed her nails trimmed. However, I told her that she did not need to do it, since I already knew how to trim them myself. The employee took Flower into the veterinarian’s office and she quickly came back out stating that Flower was not allowed back there. Then she asked if she could take Flower over to the dog grooming window and show her friends. I told her that it was OK. Before I knew it she was taking Flower into the dog grooming area without my permission. I could see the other employees gathered around her. I was very uncomfortable with Flower being in an area with barking dogs. As I was getting ready to go get Flower, the employee started to come out of the dog grooming room. When she came out, she showed us that Flower got her nails trimmed. I told her that she did not need to do that. I requested that the employee give me Flower back. As the employee was lifting Flower I could see that her foot was caught in her necklace and her shirt. In addition, I could see that Flower’s leg was twisted and bent backwards. I instructed the employee that Flower was caught and I could see her foot better. I requested that she allow me to untangle Flower. I made it very clear for her not to move Flower anymore as the movement was hurting my skunk every time the employee pulled on her. Instead of listening to my instructions, the employee blindly reached for Flower’s foot and pulled on it. As a result Flower nipped her. I quickly took Flower from the employee and asked the employee if she was OK. The employee replied, “yes I will be fine.” The employee went back to into the veterinarian’s office to tend to her finger. Within seconds the veterinarian, Dr. Timothy Smaha, asked if we could stay for a few minutes since he did not know what to do since Flower bit one of his employees. He had the receptionist take my personal information.
Furthermore, a few seconds later the store manager from PetSmart told me that we had to leave because Flower was not allowed in the store in the first place. I asked him why and he said that exotic pets are not welcome in the store. I told him that the sign when you enter the store says “Pets Welcome” and when we walked into the store nobody stopped us even though the employees saw us bring her in. I told him that we could not leave yet because Flower bit an employee. We were then sent to an empty waiting room while Dr. Smaha made some phone calls. About 10 minutes later another vet technician came into the room and asked for the name of Flower's veterinarian. I contacted Flower’s original owner. She told me that she thought it was xxxxxxx, but she was not sure. So I called xxxxxx's office and they had no records for her. I contacted her owner again and she then thought it was xxxxxx. I called this veterinarian’s office and was told that they did not release records without the original owner's consent. I tried to contact Flower’s original owner again and I was awaiting a response from her.
Not long after that Dr. Smaha came into the room for the first time. He told us that he had made some phone calls and that he was waiting for them to call him back since this has never happened before. He did mention that he called the Department of Health. I asked Dr. Smaha if they were going to take her from me and his response was “I don’t think so.” I was given the impression that I was going to leave with my pet skunk. I explained to him that Flower was a domestic pet skunk. The only reason she bit was because her foot was caught in the employee's shirt and necklace. I told him that she was getting hurt. He acted like he understood and he even commented on how tame she was. I told him that she is a friendly skunk and that I was visiting South Carolina for just a short time and where I am from you can legally have a skunk as a pet and that I would be going home soon. In addition, the veterinarian told me that skunks were not legal in South Carolina. I told him that I was not aware that she was not allowed in that state. I even offered to take her back home immediately. At the time I was still under the impression that I was going to be returning home with Flower. I asked how the employee was and the veterinarian said that they sent her to the hospital. Before he left the room he told me that he would keep me informed.
After he left the room I had Harvey return to the hotel and to get her paperwork since I had not heard back from Flower’s original owner. When Harvey returned to the store, I told the receptionist that I had Flower’s paperwork, she informed the veterinarian and he just glanced at the paperwork. So I went back to the room, within minutes Dr. Smaha entered the room with Charles W. James from the Department of Health. Mr. James told us that Flower was to be turned over to be tested for rabies indicating that Animal Control will need to euthanize her, and that they were on their way to pick her up. In addition, Mr. James said that he contacted our state, and it had similar laws stating in the same situation in our state Animal Control will euthanize an animal for biting. I told him what happened and Flower only bit the employee because she was hurting her. I begged for him to quarantine her. Mr. James said that there was no quarantine period for her and she had to be put down. There was nothing I could do to save her. We were so upset and bewildered, however, my boyfriend asked Mr. James if she would be put down humanely. Mr. James said yes by lethal injection and that I would get her rabies results in the mail.
We only had a few seconds to say goodbye to Flower since Animal Control was on their way. We were given the option to stay until Animal Control came, but we were to upset. Dr. Smaha offered to take Flower from me, but I told that she was now scared and I did not want her to nip him. He took me to the back room and I placed Flower in a cage. Flower immediately wanted out. I told her goodbye and that I was sorry I could not save her. Then I left the store because I did not want my last memory of her being taken away by Animal Control. This whole process took a couple of hours and it was not until the end when the Department of Health showed up did I fear for Flower being euthanized. They led us to believe otherwise when they kept asking for her veterinary records. I think they knew all along Flower was going to be euthanized.
I wish I would have never trusted the Bainfield Pet Hospital employee. But I trusted her, I thought that she was a veterinary technician and her statements did not make me believe otherwise. If I would have known that she was not a veterinary technician, I would have never had let her hold Flower. I put the blame on this employee for making me believe that if she was bitten that nothing would happen and it was no big deal. I’m very upset that she took Flower into a dog grooming area and cutting her nails without my permission. Flower would have never had bitten her if she would have just listened to me when her paw was being pulled backwards. My beloved Flower paid the ultimate price with her life. Flower did not deserve to die this way.
Flower did not have a history of biting she loved to be held and cuddled up next to me or anyone in my family. Whoever had an empty lap at the time is where she would end up for hours. She craved and loved all the attention that my family gave her. She was our beloved pet and a huge part of our family. When we first got her she was malnourished and way underweight, we were pretty sure that the woman who had her last did not treat her very well. Flower overcame some huge obstacles in her short life, this makes her loss even harder. Flower did not deserve to die. We all miss her terribly. I still have nightmares about that fateful day.
While nothing can replace our beloved Flower, my family would eventually love to welcome another skunk into our lives. She brought so much pleasure to my family. I am asking that Bainfield Pet Hospital to purchase me another skunk. It costs around $400.00 for a new skunk and that does not include the spay or neuter or any required vaccinations. I think this is the right thing for Banfield to do, since Flower died due to one of their employee’s negligence. In addition, I worry about how they would treat their clients’ pets when they bite an employee of Bainfield. Would they call the Department of Health and have them euthanized just as they did to my Flower. I would think twice about taking my pet to their clinic. If it could happen to me, it could happen to your pet. I have left messages with the Bainfield Pet Hospital and to date they have not contacted me back. When the Banfield Hospital does I will inform you in an update to my statement. They have never accepted responsibility for their employee’s actions. I didn’t even intend on writing a letter until I found out that Bainfield had portrayed some of the events that led to Flower’s death in an untruthful way. I want the truth to be told and I am waiting to see where they stand now.
In the time that I started this letter, Flower’s rabies results came back negative and this enforces my statements that she was a domesticated pet skunk.
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This is a true statement of what led to our domestic pet skunk being unfairly euthanized. I do not want this nightmare to ever happen to someone else. This is why I want people to know that this could happen to them. This helps me to know that by educating other skunk owners, that my baby Flower did not die in vain.
Sincerely,
Hannah Miller
A suggestion is for you to at least have your tetanus shot up to date. If your skunk bites
someone and you want to spend the money, hire a lawyer to fight from having your
beloved skunk put down and pay for the rabies shots that are required to be
taken after the bite. It's a series of five shots costing
around $215.00 each. Sometimes the insurance company will pay for
it. You have to work quickly due to the fact that the health dept. wastes
no time in killing your pet domestic skunk.
NEVER JOKE ABOUT BEING BIT BY
YOUR PET SKUNK. THE WRONG PERSON EAVES DROPPING CAN STILL REPORT
IT!
NOTE: This does not pertain to any animal that is
taken from the wild; you are taking a risk when taking any animal out of the
wild to make it into your pet. It would be wise to leave the wild life
alone. Buy captive born skunks by breeders.
If you find a wild skunk please read the following>It is illegal to take skunks from the wild in most states, if you find an abandoned or injured wild skunk contact a wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance. If you live in Ohio click here to find a wildlife rehabilitator. If you live outside of Northeast Ohio, please click here to find a rehabilitation facility near you to take in injured or orphaned skunks. If you need a referral we can assist you with finding a legal rehabilitator in your area.
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU TAKE A ANIMAL OUT OF THE WILD TO MAKE IT YOUR PET PLEASE READ CLICK HERE
New Rabies testing may save our skunks from being put down. Read about it here... DNA Test
If your skunk gets out of the house it may not come back again. There are steps to take before and after an unfortunate occurance.
Warning about using METACAM for pain
If your skunk eats chocolate, this is what you should do.
| Intro to Skunks | An introduction to skunks, both wild and domestic. |
| Basic Skunk Care | Caring for a pet skunk. |
| Pet Skunks | The good...and the bad. |
| Your New Skunk | Caring for your new pet skunk. |
| Nutrition and Diet & Foods | What to feed your pet skunk. |
| Skunk First Aid | Common things to have on hand, common first aid procedures. |
| Worms / Parasites | Information on parasites and wormers. |
| Rectal Prolapse | What to do if your skunk does prolapse. |
| Seizures | What to do if your skunk has a seizure. |
| Arthritis, Bone Loss | Information on bone and joint problems. |
Browse our ongoing projects or some of the other links for more information on skunks.
| State Laws / Skunk Ownership | State laws and contact information. |
| Sponsor-A-Skunk Program | Help a needy skunk in care at SkunkHaven™. |
| Domestic Skunk Rescues | We take in unwanted skunks and adopt to good homes. |
| Veterinary Care & Helpful Medical Info | Resources for vet care professionals and pet skunk owners. |
| ADV in Skunks | Aleution Disease Virus and Treatment. |
| Necropsy Submission | Necropsy Submission Procedure. |
| Veterinarian List | Find a skunk vet near you. |
| Educational Programs | Wildlife and Pet Skunk presentations. |
| Wild Skunk Rescue | Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitation - Wildlife Rehab information. |
| Skunk Fest | Annual fun and games, and fund raiser. |
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| Photo by Paul Walsh | ||
| Deborah Cipriani deb@skunkhaven.net 440-327-4349 Call for medical help |
Cathy Dalgleish | Renee Pearlstein
ferretfun4@yahoo.com 216-780-2000 Call for adoptions / information |
| For general questions on wild or domestic skunks, or information on skunk adoptions, please call between the hours of 7AM and 10PM EST. | ||
| You can also get to know our Reps and contact someone near you for help. | ||
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| Awarded BellaOnline Site of the
Month, May 2005 Visit BellaOnline and BellaOnline - Exotic Pets Help and Information |
| 2011,Critters USA | Scent-sational Companions |
| Chat | Debra's Scent-Sational True Story |
| PBS Nature Is That Skunk | Is That Skunk? |
| January 25, 2009 PBS Filming | PBS NATURE - IS THAT SKUNK? |
| May 2008 Ohio Magazine | A Black and White Issue |
| May 28, 2007 National Examiner | Pepe Le Pew Lives Here! |
| April 2, 2007 National Enquirer | Who'd A Stunk it? |
| February 18, 2007 | Ripleys Believe it or Not |
| Skunk Haven in The Netherlands | Hennie in the local news |
| Cleveland, OH WOIO | Pet Skunks: Get a Whiff of Clevelands Hot New Pet |
| Ottowa County, OH Beacon | Otterbein residents to Skunkhaven visit |
| Cleveland Plain Dealer | Local skunks find sweet smell of success on PBS |
| Lorain, OH The Chronicle-Telegram | Skunkfest /08 gives owners a chance to show off their prized pets |
| Cleveland, OH WKYC-TV | Woman shares home with skunks |
| Columbus, OH Dispatch | What's black, white and loved all over? |
| Lorain, OH The Chronicle-Telegram | Skunk lovers say critters bad rap stinks |
| OH The News-Herald | Sweet Scent of comfort |
| newjersey.bestfriends.org | Not Your Ordinary Pet |
| Penelope the Skunk & President Clinton |
 Dave Evely, Penelope
"Penny" the skunk and former President Bill ClintonPhoto by Gaylene Ebling |
| Bibliography listings are available by request. Contact the webmaster. |
| Please obtain permission before copying or using any information or images on our site. Images and solicitations are used by permission of our group members or associates for our explicit purposes. |
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We love our Oreck Air Purifiers. Order products from the North Olmsted Oreck Clean Home Center or website and mention SkunkHaven™ to help support our cause. Visit your Northeast Ohio Oreck Clean Home Center for special events to support SkunkHaven™. |
Ergo Systems AutoPetFeeder |
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Order an Ergo Systems 8-Day Autofeeder and save. If you are not home to feed your skunk, your automatic feeder can be there for a timely meal. Enter "skunks2008" in coupon and get 10% off - PLUS SkunkHaven™ will also benefit. |
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Our skunks love the taste of Original
Limu,and the juice is so beneficial for them. Do you, a loved one, or your lovable pet, suffer from Cancer/Breast Cancer, disease of the Liver, Heart ,or Lungs, Lyme Disease, Arthritis, Thyroid, or Bone problems, Fibomyalgia, Depression, COPD, low immunity, just to name a few. |
| Discover the wonders of Original Limu for your first step towards healing your way to a happy healthier life. | |
| Still not convinced? Go to PubMed, Keyword="Fucoidan". Questions? - Feel free to call Deb at 440-327-4349, or send an e-mail to deb@skunkhaven.net and I will forward many testimonies from people who are using the Original Limu and what it has done for them. A percentage of your purchase/membership will benefit Skunk Haven, Inc. | |
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---------------------------------------- LEGAL DISCLAIMER ----------------------------------------
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Skunk Haven™ and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Our members may freely submit articles and opinions on Skunk matters as everyone should have the right to voice one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. The views and opinions expressed in these article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Skunk Haven™. We reserve the right to edit submitted articles for content to protect both Skunk Haven ™ and the author.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Skunk Haven™. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, Skunk Haven™ takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
© 2001-2012 Skunk Haven™ Skunk Rescue, Shelter, and Education, Inc.
Revised 05/14/12 (SRS)
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