Skunked!

I opened the window to let in the cool night air as we crawled into bed to snuggle under our warm comforters. The sound of trees rustling in the breeze and the soft scent of apple and cherry blossoms lulled us peacefully to sleep.
Without warning and abruptly waking us from our sleep, the apple and cherry blossom fragrance turned into the unmistakable smell of skunk. Anyone who is familiar with skunks close up knows that the smell is not unlike the stench of burning rubber and it just gets worse. The smell continued to grow stronger and stronger.
I switched on the light… midnight. “Oh my God, I wonder if one of the dogs has been left outside,” I said to my husband.
I threw back the covers and raced across the room to close the window. I turned to see Kasper, our daughter’s large part wolf-dog, standing next to the bed with a dripping yellow patch staining his white coat. A visiting friend had let him in before realizing that the dog had been sprayed. In no time, Kasper had toured the house looking for help and spreading the offensive odor throughout.
Kasper has been skunked several times. We are certain he thinks he’s going after the same stinky cat every time. He is so determined to catch that nasty offensive critter, he simply can’t stop himself.
Not wanting to deal with bathing him at that ungodly hour, I put him out on the porch for the night.
The next morning, looking miserable after being locked out and away from his usual cozy bed, we brought him in for the following de-skunking treatment:
1L of hydrogen peroxide (the kind from your First Aide Kit) 1/3 cup of baking soda1 tbsp of dish soap Mix together and massage into to the coat, watch around the eyes and face (a drop of mineral oil in each eye will protect his or her eyes), leave on for 15 min if possible, minimum of 5 minutes, then rinse off thoroughly, you may shampoo after if desired. You can add up to 4L of water for a large dog, but the effectiveness will be diminished. Adjust the amount of the mixture depending on the size of your pet to make sure coat is thoroughly saturated. Repeat as necessary. Do not store this mixture as it could explode, creating yet another mess.
This just in from a friend who has Jack Russell Terriers and we all know how ‘determined’ they can be. She claims that wetting a sponge with apple cider vinegar and then wiping the dog down with it, will miraculously dispel the stink. It’s worth a try, but I’m not looking for an opportunity to try it out. If anyone reading this has experience with it or the opportunity to try it, let me know how it works for you.
For garments that have been contaminated with the scent, try the following… I know this works. Place all the clothes into a large plastic garbage bag (make certain there are no holes in the bag)… NO, do not through it away. Simply tie the bag closed making a tight seal and leave it for two to three weeks depending on how bad they smell. When you open the bag… smell is gone. Good luck… and may your days be filled with only pleasant smells.