Embarrassing Skunk Question..

[ian14]

Originally Posted by Dextersdad

The man who bred ours does the decenting himself (medically trained). It's done at a very young age and causes almost no distress to the animal. Doing it when older could be a hazard due to blood vessels in the area.

I'm amazed it's illegal (but know it is) for a vet to do commercially. After all, he's going to get his knackers done soon and that's not nice at all.

There's no need for the scent glands to be working in captivity. I don't have any problem with fully loaded but also I'm happy to have a decented skunk.

Well, not only is the breeder committing offences under the Animal Welfare Act, a conviction of which will lead to a ban on keeping animals, he (or she) is also acting illegally if he is not a qualified veterinary surgeon.

[Dextersdad]

Originally Posted by ian14

Well, not only is the breeder committing offences under the Animal Welfare Act, a conviction of which will lead to a ban on keeping animals, he (or she) is also acting illegally if he is not a qualified veterinary surgeon.

Your medal is in the post.

Want me to say who it is and give details?

Not happening.

Seriously, we could argue for months over the subject and get nowhere. I don't need to be told what it is in relation to the welfare act.

As I said before I see no problem with the act of descenting and what it entails. He's having his knackers off very soon too as he doesn't need them either. I'm not with the law makers on this one.

[ian14]

Your medal is in the post

No need for the sarcasm really is there?

Want me to say who it is and give details?

Not happening.

No, quite right, as I wouldn't expect you would given the fact that you have stated on a public forum that your friend is carrying out illegal acts

I don't need to be told what it is in relation to the welfare act

.

You are simply giving yet more ammunition to the anti's - again, comments being made on an exotic animal forum in which keepers show complete disregard for legislation. Great! one of the animal rights people reads this, all they see is a group of people who engage in a hobby they disagree with and will go to any lengths to stop, with legislation in place to prtect the welfare of the animal, and keepers blatatly ignore it.

As I said before I see no problem with the act of descenting and what it entails. He's having his knackers off very soon too as he doesn't need them either. I'm not with the law makers on this one.

You may not agree with it, but it is an Act of Parliament nonetheless. During the proposal period, consultations were carried out, part of which showed that descenting has no benefit to the animal and is therefore an unnecessary intrusive operation, hence it became illegal.
The AWA is in place whether you like it or not. If you get caught, then saying "I don't agree with this law" is not going to be accepted. It is no different to getting caught breaking into someone's house and saying "Well, I don't agree that breaking into houses should be illegal."

[Emmaj]

i do have to say i 100% agree with Ian

yes everyone has their own opinion on things BUT!! some opinions are best left off a public forum for the reasons that Ian has stated

[Dextersdad]

Originally Posted by ian14

No need for the sarcasm really is there?



No, quite right, as I wouldn't expect you would given the fact that you have stated on a public forum that your friend is carrying out illegal acts

.

You are simply giving yet more ammunition to the anti's - again, comments being made on an exotic animal forum in which keepers show complete disregard for legislation. Great! one of the animal rights people reads this, all they see is a group of people who engage in a hobby they disagree with and will go to any lengths to stop, with legislation in place to prtect the welfare of the animal, and keepers blatatly ignore it.



You may not agree with it, but it is an Act of Parliament nonetheless. During the proposal period, consultations were carried out, part of which showed that descenting has no benefit to the animal and is therefore an unnecessary intrusive operation, hence it became illegal.
The AWA is in place whether you like it or not. If you get caught, then saying "I don't agree with this law" is not going to be accepted. It is no different to getting caught breaking into someone's house and saying "Well, I don't agree that breaking into houses should be illegal."

We all have our opinions. I happen to disagree with yours.

Was there a need for sarcasm? I thought so. I alsready stated before I knew the law yet you went on to state it again and again.

Oh, the breeder is not my friend by the way. More of an acquaintance.

I won't be getting caught as I have not carried out any harmful acts on the skunk.

Descenting may have no benefit on the animal but then again neither does having the love spuds removed but this is deemed to be ok. That in itself is an iontrusive operation, one which ours is having in just a couple of days.

We could go on like this round and round (we could even charge people to ride on it).

Originally Posted by Emmaj

i do have to say i 100% agree with Ian

yes everyone has their own opinion on things BUT!! some opinions are best left off a public forum for the reasons that Ian has stated

Some things may well be best left off of a public forum. This however in my opinion is not one of them, hence I am happy to discuss it.

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by Dextersdad

We all have our opinions. I happen to disagree with yours.

Was there a need for sarcasm? I thought so. I alsready stated before I knew the law yet you went on to state it again and again.

Oh, the breeder is not my friend by the way. More of an acquaintance.

I won't be getting caught as I have not carried out any harmful acts on the skunk.

Descenting may have no benefit on the animal but then again neither does having the love spuds removed but this is deemed to be ok. That in itself is an iontrusive operation, one which ours is having in just a couple of days.

We could go on like this round and round (we could even charge people to ride on it).



Some things may well be best left off of a public forum. This however in my opinion is not one of them, hence I am happy to discuss it.

even if it means that the person you purchased in the animal welfare acts eyes a mutilated skunk from could, 1, be sent to jail, 2 have all his animals removed from him 3, never be able to own animals again

see it isnt that difficult to find out who the person is if people really want to..............dosnt matter wether you give a name or not

[Dextersdad]

Originally Posted by Emmaj

even if it means that the person you purchased in the animal welfare acts eyes a mutilated skunk from could, 1, be sent to jail, 2 have all his animals removed from him 3, never be able to own animals again

see it isnt that difficult to find out who the person is if people really want to..............dosnt matter wether you give a name or not

The person in question makes no secret of the fact he descents them anyway so it's not in my hands.

[sami]

The issue I have with it is.. It's classed as an unneccesary mutilation..

But it's a lot less intrusive than being spayed/neutered, which removes the urge to mate, therefore stops animals displaying natural behaviour. It changes the personality of the animal, and removes hormone producing organs.

But they won't ban spaying/neutering as it's too convenient for people to stop animals displaying mating behaviour (thinking dogs humping legs here), which is the most natural thing in the world!

Just to clarify, before people jump on me for that.. I'm not against spaying/neutering, just using it as an example.

Descenting doesn't change natural behaviour, it's used as a last resort, and even when descented, they still try and spray, as they don't realise their glands are gone!

Mine is fully loaded by the way, but she has only sprayed once in the 2 weeks we have had her.. She was a bit freaked out by the dogs, and was trying to go between the sofa cushions.. Mason went to pull her out, and pffft


ETA: in regards to the initial post... I have occasionally 'tasted' skunk smell.. especially on the day she sprayed, but have had that experience with some other skunks I've met.. It's one of those lingering but not IMO bad smells.

[Dextersdad]

Originally Posted by sami

The issue I have with it is.. It's classed as an unneccesary mutilation..

But it's a lot less intrusive than being spayed/neutered, which removes the urge to mate, therefore stops animals displaying natural behaviour. It changes the personality of the animal, and removes hormone producing organs.

But they won't ban spaying/neutering as it's too convenient for people to stop animals displaying mating behaviour (thinking dogs humping legs here), which is the most natural thing in the world!

Just to clarify, before people jump on me for that.. I'm not against spaying/neutering, just using it as an example.

Descenting doesn't change natural behaviour, it's used as a last resort, and even when descented, they still try and spray, as they don't realise their glands are gone!

Mine is fully loaded by the way, but she has only sprayed once in the 2 weeks we have had her.. She was a bit freaked out by the dogs, and was trying to go between the sofa cushions.. Mason went to pull her out, and pffft


ETA: in regards to the initial post... I have occasionally 'tasted' skunk smell.. especially on the day she sprayed, but have had that experience with some other skunks I've met.. It's one of those lingering but not IMO bad smells.

I'm glad you also raised the points in relation to spaying and neutering. Indeed it is a heck of a lot less intrusive.

Mine is currently having a lay down in the cat basket. I think one of the cats may be in there too,

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by sami

The issue I have with it is.. It's classed as an unneccesary mutilation..

But it's a lot less intrusive than being spayed/neutered, which removes the urge to mate, therefore stops animals displaying natural behaviour. It changes the personality of the animal, and removes hormone producing organs.

But they won't ban spaying/neutering as it's too convenient for people to stop animals displaying mating behaviour (thinking dogs humping legs here), which is the most natural thing in the world!

Just to clarify, before people jump on me for that.. I'm not against spaying/neutering, just using it as an example.

Descenting doesn't change natural behaviour, it's used as a last resort, and even when descented, they still try and spray, as they don't realise their glands are gone!

Mine is fully loaded by the way, but she has only sprayed once in the 2 weeks we have had her.. She was a bit freaked out by the dogs, and was trying to go between the sofa cushions.. Mason went to pull her out, and pffft


ETA: in regards to the initial post... I have occasionally 'tasted' skunk smell.. especially on the day she sprayed, but have had that experience with some other skunks I've met.. It's one of those lingering but not IMO bad smells.

sami isnt that 1st pffft just fantastic
i think their 1st lil spray when babies is soooooo sweet but im a wierdo who dosnt mind the smell of skunk spray