Gangsta Skunks

One of the hazards of living in the boondocks is the threat of attacks by angry woodland gangsters. They prey upon their naiive domesticated mammalian relatives who have not been educated to the signs of gang symbolism.

Those of us who are worldly know the signs. The colors: white on black with the stripes starting at the head and ending at the tail. The stripes can vary from single to double to the triple threat. We see the stripes, we turn and walk away. We know that if we leave them alone they will probably leave us alone.

Unfortunately, the naive golden retriever has been sheltered from these thicket thugs. She does not recognize the colors, she perceives a lifted tail as an invitation. She sniffs. It sprays. She is hit point blank in the face. The older, wiser, half-border collie Fiona is grazed but escapes the major assault.

I have been informed of the attack by my husband. The victims were sentenced to the garage for the day. I must deal with them at day end.

My vet recommended Nature's Miracle is all but empty. I consult the internets.

The first thing I find is DO NOT USE TOMATO JUICE! Please tell me where that tradition/urban mythology/old wives wisdom/rumor came from? I used tomato juice once, decades ago. It did not work AT ALL. The result was a dog matted with sticky red goo and a lingering skunk aroma.

On the internets I found the best remedy ever! 2 quarts of hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup of baking soda, 2 tsp. dish detergent. This neutralized the odor almost immediately! There is a faint skunky smell, but the dogs are tolerable. The most tolerable they have been under such an attack.