Skunked!

Morning run got cut short today. Ran with Tim up to Skinner Butte, but on the way up Buddy took off and got skunked. We had gotten about 2/3's of the way up the butte. Dogs were off leash sniffing and peeing on everything in sight. I was feeling great, the hill was effortless and I was lost in my thoughts when I saw Buddy take off under a tree. I thought about calling him back, but I was having a great run and thought he should have some fun too. The next thing I see is him coming out from under the tree shaking his head. He was already foaming at the mouth and shaking his head trying to rid himself of the smell. That's when it dawned on me - Oh my God he just got skunked!

So I watched for several minutes more as he rolled on the grass, spit spraying as he shook his head. Tim and I were doubled over dry heaving from the pungent odor and wondered how we were going to get close enough to get the leash back on him AND then run behind him the 2 miles back home. Buddy came closer and I could see his face and neck were covered in the yellow spray. No "good dog" came out of my mouth and he seemed comfused when Tim and I retreated farther from him everytime he got close.

After he had rolled a bit more, still shaking his head, foam dripping from his mouth, we got the leash on him, kept Lilly away and started the trek home. We started to think the smell had gone away a bit until the wind would shift and again we found ourselves doubled over heaving. As we passed other runners, we watched them wipe their noses looking around trying to find where the smell was coming from. By the time we got home, we also smelled like we had gotten sprayed. Our hair, clothes and skin was oozing the stink.

With Buddy outside, we shut all of the windows, turned off the fan and stripped off our stinky clothes. In the shower the smell came out of my pores and into the steam. Would the smell ever go away? By this time I was making plans off taking the morning and maybe the day off.

Buddy's first bath was in tomato juice, second was at Suds um' Yourself with their magic formula: 1/4c hydrogen peroxide, 1/2c baking soda and 2T dish soap. I can't say Buddy is free from stink, but I can now get close enough to pet him. I'm not sure when he'll be let back inside, but at least the smell is gone from the house and ourselves.