Isn't descenting skunks more akin to declawing cats than to nutering, after all you are removing a defence mechanism. What real excuse can you have for doing this except as a vain atempt to sell more animals to people who want a cute furry pet.

Why not go the whole hog and ask for all snakes to be defanged, dogs to have all there teeth removed.

There is no real justification for this idea and anyone claiming to be interested in animal welfare should be shocked and ashamed at this behaviour and not publicising a petition.

Why would a captive skunk EVER be in a situation that they would NEED that defense mechanism? It would be excruciatingly irresponsible for any keeper to allow their skunk to escape into Britain as they're non-natives. The descenting operation is not particularly invasive, does not have behavioural effects on the animal and doesn't remove their OTHER natural defenses (claws and teeth).

Declawing a cat has more effect than JUST to remove their claws as a natural defense - it also makes it more difficult for them to move around normally (they can't climb, stretch properly or get a proper grip on flooring) - and can cause behavioural problems like inappropriate toileting, especially if they have a lot of pain when they're healing up.

And why is it acceptable to neuter a dog when that causes changes in their growth and behaviour - and not always in a favourable way? It's done for human convenience (so the dog doesn't mount/roam/etc) and not for the dog's specific health. Again, it can CAUSE health problems (urinary incontinence in bitches, for example).

If one operation is OK for human convenience and preference of behaviour, then I personally cannot see why another less invasive procedure that doesn't affect the animal's behaviour or well being if it's done CORRECTLY by a veterinarian is unacceptable.

Is it just that you don't think skunks should be pets at all?

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- Ssthisto





Lizards: 2.1 E. macularius1.2 H. caudicinctus1.0 R. ciliatus0.3 A. fragilis1.1 T. merianae1.0 V. niloticus ittibittiusColubrids: 5.7.10 P. guttattus1.0 P. guttatus X E. climacophora1.1 P. o. rossalini1.0 P. o. lindheimeri0.1 E. anomala0.1 C. radiatus1.2 Lamprophis spp1.0 L. g. nigritus0.1 L. g. californiae1.0 H. n. nasicus1.0 P. m. melanoleucusBoids: 1.1 E. c. maurus 0.1 E. conicus12.14.4 P. regius1.1 A. maculosa
We HAD a three-bedroom house... Current lodgers: 1.0 E. c. maurus, 0.1 P. regius

I don't think people should not be allowed to have skunks as pets, I just think they should not have skunks as accessories.

Why descent a skunk, they is no reason for this unless you want a cute little animal you can pet. If this is what you want, get a puppy or kitten.

There is no valid reason, apart from the above, to validate this operation.

By the way, the only valid reason for neutering is as a form of contraception. It does not always change behaviour, either sexual or aggression. A dog or a cat can behave exactly the same whether neutered or not.

If we're advocating neutering strictly as contraception, why don't more veterinarians perform vasectomies on dogs/cats? Then you're leaving the animal's hormones intact - so it will grow and behave like an entire animal.

Oh, wait.

It's because tomcats spray and male dogs mount things. Early spay and neuter reduces this to almost nil - it changes the animal's behaviour. Late spay or neuter isn't so bad - the animal's had the developmental effects of the hormones to assist in body growth and behavioural development... but then you get spraying and mounting neutered males.

People DO get skunks because they want a cute animal they can pet - temperamentally they're very well suited to it if they aren't going to 'poot' and blind the whole family. Other than a zoo specimen, what else is a trainable, cute, fluffy animal kept in the home for?

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- Ssthisto





Lizards: 2.1 E. macularius1.2 H. caudicinctus1.0 R. ciliatus0.3 A. fragilis1.1 T. merianae1.0 V. niloticus ittibittiusColubrids: 5.7.10 P. guttattus1.0 P. guttatus X E. climacophora1.1 P. o. rossalini1.0 P. o. lindheimeri0.1 E. anomala0.1 C. radiatus1.2 Lamprophis spp1.0 L. g. nigritus0.1 L. g. californiae1.0 H. n. nasicus1.0 P. m. melanoleucusBoids: 1.1 E. c. maurus 0.1 E. conicus12.14.4 P. regius1.1 A. maculosa
We HAD a three-bedroom house... Current lodgers: 1.0 E. c. maurus, 0.1 P. regius

Not everyone that has skunks as pets use them as fashion accessories................and it is illegal to descent skunks in this country now anyways

you will probably find that 90% of the people that own skunks dont advertise the fact they do so i dont see how they are being used as a fashion accessory

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Love and respect goes out to...........Snake pliskin, pliskins chains, LoveMySnakes J-Dee ,Finchy , sam69, Webby06_2007, Scaley, FooFoo & Ditta, tick, RONST3R, Diablo & Faith,Sinni, xPrincessx, Shell195 , Pouchie, Grumpymouth, HABU, Purejurrasic

If you remove a dogs teeth then it cannot eat, if you remove a snakes teeth [they do not all have fangs] it cannot eat.

So you say descenting a skunk is the same as this?

If you descent a skunk it can still eat.

Removing a cats claws?? they will not be able to climb nor walk properly, so how is this the same?

'muskrat' you seem to have a problem and im not quite sure what it is at the moment, but i have been reading through your posts and you seem quick to jump on people. Why is this?

Fair enough you do not agree with descenting skunks, but why go about it in this manner?

John

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Petition to: To Allow the De-scenting of Skunks.

Just for you.

John

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I think muskrat was bored and wanted some attention John

and what better way to get that other than start a pathetic thread like this

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Love and respect goes out to...........Snake pliskin, pliskins chains, LoveMySnakes J-Dee ,Finchy , sam69, Webby06_2007, Scaley, FooFoo & Ditta, tick, RONST3R, Diablo & Faith,Sinni, xPrincessx, Shell195 , Pouchie, Grumpymouth, HABU, Purejurrasic

Would have to agree with you Emmaj.

The hoggies are doing well BTW. How are yours getting on?

John

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Oooo brill have you stoped the escapee hoggy lol

I had my youngest out yest cleaning her cage i had to do a mad search for her found her under my bed curled up in my slipper

yeah mine are doing fab thank you they grow so quick they aint babies for 2 mins

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Love and respect goes out to...........Snake pliskin, pliskins chains, LoveMySnakes J-Dee ,Finchy , sam69, Webby06_2007, Scaley, FooFoo & Ditta, tick, RONST3R, Diablo & Faith,Sinni, xPrincessx, Shell195 , Pouchie, Grumpymouth, HABU, Purejurrasic