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Calendar of Events
Things to Expect & Do
Trees for Special Areas
A Date with History
Annuals in the
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Buzz; A Book Review
Velvet Mesquite
Computer Corner
Chilies
Ask a Master Gardener
How Herbicides Work
The Unappreciated
Smell of Rain
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Word Wise
Garden Insects of
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Is Your Gardening
Library Complete
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C O M P U T E R C O R N E R
by Candice Sherrill, Master Gardener
PEPE LE PEW PAYS A VISIT
Cooper, our beagle, discovered a skunk on the back porch early this morning, and you can probably guess how things
progressed from there. As designated guardian of our particular little castle, he wasted no time making Pepe understand
that the welcome mat was definitely not out for members of his ilk. The skunk beat a hasty retreat back through the
gate, but not before leaving his calling card.
No sooner had he disappeared around the corner of the house, than I heard my husband issue this decree:
"Lemon juice! Get out the lemon juice!"
"No!" I argued as I worked frantically to corral the poor dog in the laundry room off the garage. "It's tomato juice
they always recommend!"
GOOGLE WOMAN TO THE RESCUE!
Springing into my trusty phone booth (Okay, the computer room) I did a quick query using "skunk attack" as the search
term. Within seconds I was reading this advice from the Amherst Small Animal Hospital in Snyder, New York:
"First, make sure you do not touch your pet for 2 hours after skunk contact. This is the safest approach, as rabies can
be carried by skunks and the virus can remain active on the fur of your pet for a short while after the contact.
Mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1 box of baking soda and 1 bottle of dish detergent. Wearing dish washing gloves, wet the
pet's fur and apply the cleaner thoroughly, avoiding the eyes. Scrub well, rinse, then repeat as needed until the odor
is manageable. The odor will not be entirely eliminated but it should be livable. When the pet dries you should be happy
with the odor level. If not repeat more baths. The skunk odor will still be evident when the pet is wet for several
months."
Fortunately we had all the recommended ingredients on hand, and Cooper is now resting comfortably on the living room
floor—much shinier, fluffier and sweeter-smelling than he was a few hours ago.
(And perhaps a little wiser, as well).
The Amherst Small Animal Hospital's rabies info can be found at: http://www.asah.net/When_Skunks_Attack.htm
RABIES STATISTICS And while I'm at it, here's the URL of a page put out by the Arizona Department of Health Services
listing the state's rabies statistics for 2003:
http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC438/Rabies%20in%20Arizona,%202003%20-%20ADHS.htm
Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer Information
Last Updated November 21, 2004
Author: Lucy K. Bradley, Extension Agent Urban Horticulture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
© 1997 The University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County
Comments to Maricopa-hort@ag.arizona.edu 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040,
Voice: (602) 470-8086 ext. 301, Fax (602) 470-8092
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