Close encounter of the skunk kind in Oak Park

On Sunday evening, shortly after watching Usain Bolt win the 100-meter dash, I lazily released my dog into the backyard for her final voiding of the evening. I was surprised at how quickly she raced out the door. In the moonlight I spied her run up to an animal dressed in black with some white markings. I turned on the porch light and tried to shoo away the raccoon that I thought my dog was confronting.

The animal decided that Canela, my dog, was too big for her to deal with and ran into the neighbor's yard. Then Canela starts to roll in the lawn, and I realized the species of animal that has those black and white markings. I ran inside shut the doors and windows and watched as Canela continued to roll in the lawn. In hindsight, I concluded I should have dragged her back onto the screened-in porch while holding my breath (before she rolled in the spray for 20 minutes).

Monday morning, I spent three hours watering the grass I have vowed never to sprinkle. It was an attempt to drown the smell of skunk. Canela, which is Spanish for "Cinnamon," stood patiently while I de-skunked her with a Petco product I purchased the moment their doors opened that morning.

I am grateful that a coyote did not carry off my small dog. I do believe in loving all species. However, I am not sure I want to deal with a skunk again.

Ginger Brown Vanderveer
Oak Park