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2 • APRIL 2020 - Senior Voice of Citrus County
Pet Skunks Bring Joy to Local
Seniors Who Care for Them
By Megan Carella more) to hold a skunk while
friends snapped photos.
First, let’s clear the air: Volunteers Brenda Hoch and
skunks bred as pets can’t Della Etters held skunks for
spray. Pet skunks are passersby to see. Delighted
“disarmed,” usually by children begged their parents
having their scent glands for one. Several skunks
removed surgically at an huddled in Brenda’s jacket
early age so they can’t spray to stay warm in the morning
you.
chill.
Now, take a deep breath “We accept pet skunks
and explore the wonderful whose owners can no longer
world of pet skunks with a keep them, no matter the
group of local women who reason,” said Brenda, age 62,
have made it their mission to of Hudson. She has served
rescue, foster, and find good as Florida Skunk Rescue’s
homes for domestically bred director since 2015 and On a cool morning at the Floral City Strawberry Festival, a
skunks. few skunks huddle in Brenda Hoch’s coat for warmth. (Photo by Jim
volunteered with the group Vavala)
On a recent sunny Sunday, for several years prior. “We
the Floral City Strawberry make sure they are healthy
Festival was in full swing, and work to find them good
with loads of visitors eating homes.”
strawberry shortcake, Founded in 2004, Florida
buying crafts, food, and Skunk Rescue has rescued
artwork from artists and and “rehomed” more than 300
vendors – and crowding the skunks, 27 in 2019 alone. The
booth of the Florida Skunk organization uses festivals,
Rescue. Inside, people school visits, and adoption
were cooing over a trio of events to educate people
skunks in a child’s play pen about skunks, their diet,
and donating one dollar (or
behavior, and veterinary care.
Even Law Enforcement Officers love skunks! (Photo by Brenda Hoch)
Tree Works, LLC “Skunks make great pets, but an average life span of eight
to 12 years, eat a vegetable-
they aren’t for everyone,”
said Brenda, who researched based diet, use a litter box
Tree Trimming & Removing them when her husband with newspapers, not kitty
Free Estimates expressed a wish for a pet litter (“they like to throw the
skunk. She found that, just litter around,” said Brenda),
like any animal, skunks and shed their coats once or
BENNETT BROOKS have their own little quirks. twice a year.
352-287-1384 They are curious and like to
LICENSED INSURED investigate things. They have Continued on page 3
