To you they may be creatures with an incredibly awful stench, but for this woman caring for skunks is the same as taking care of a dog.
Ohio resident Deborah Cipriani, 55, says she keeps 50 skunks in her home as pets and also runs the only rescue centre for domestic skunks in the U.S.
In the video above by Barcroft TV, Cipriani shares her insight on taking care of a pet skunk and why the Annual Skunk Festival focuses on changing public opinion about these furry little mammals.
"A lot of people think we're weird," she says. "They always say why do you want a pet skunk and I ask them, 'why do you want a pet dog?'" Cipriani adds skunks can be just as lovable and devoted like the four-legged dog.
The video also goes through Cipriani's typical day and why so many others have decided to keep skunks as pets. Several states, including Ohio, allow skunks as pets with a permit. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not provide permits for those who import skunks as pets.
And yes, we're all wondering the same thing, how does she (or anyone for that matter) deal with the smell? Cipriani says skunks are wonderful animals and for the most part, skunks only release their foul odours if they believe they're being threatened.
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