warning to others

[amylls]

Originally Posted by mat_worrell

Because it is classed as mutilation.......

yeah i know but why?? i thought the op was similar to neutering....is it really that bad?

[mat_worrell]

In relation to the OP post I do feel that they done the right thing by contacting the people they brought the skunk from as at the end of the day whether the skunk was theirs to sell or not it is them that OP would have dealt with in the process of purchasing the skunk.

I do however feel that Chris fulfilled his responsibility by telling the orriginal owner of the skunk the situation and if the OP wants to take any further action they should pass on the details and let the original owner and the OP resolve the situation.

I do also agree that as a responsible new owner the OP should have done third research and been aware and ready for the possibility of a prolapse if it is indeed a 'common problem' amount younge skunks. If they had done the research they would be aware that it is not anyones fault as such ( although many will argue that it is the person who decided to have the skunk descended fault) and it woul not have been a shock to them and equally would be aware of how to deal with it.

[slimeysnail]

I am not sure this is the correct post to be posting this on, as the original post was not really about the descenting issue being legal or not..

But in answer to your question amylls.. I believe it was in 2006 that the animal welfare act was changed/updated, so that it says that no animal can be ''changed'' for purely cosmetic reasons- and this is what the act sees as cosmetic reasons- descenting a skunk so that it can no longer spray, so that it can be kept as a pet. The act also mentions tail docking in dogs etc. for cosmetic reasons- which again, is now illegal too.

I am unsure as to the ins and outs of the actual operation of descenting- though I have heard various reports about how it is done.. and to be perfectly honest, it doesnt sound pleasant. But how it is done is not in question, it is more about operating on an animal to make it more ''appealing'' as a pet I suppose, taking away the little mites natural defence mechanism.

[mat_worrell]

Exactly my point amylls. Surely working on the basis of descanting is matilation taking a dogs boll***s off is matilation. My point is that society has certain things that are deemed acceptable and certain things that are not.

[amylls]

ok sorry to put it in the wrong place....i will start a new thread!

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by mat_worrell

To be honest ambyglam, not a very helpfully post there. Yes descentibg is illegal to do in this country but if it isn't in another and the skunk is being brought over to this country you can't have a go at people for wanting to buy then.

My personal opinion on descentibg is that it should be allowed. The argument of leaving an animal as nature intended..... Why is it acceptible to spay and neuter animals, that is messing with an animal and taking away what nature intended. In this argument surely spaying and neutering should not be allowed and it should be the owners responisbility to ensure animals do not breed unless it's the intention ofthe owner to breed.

Equally male dogs are neutered to calm them down if they are boisterous, in this instance neutering is used to the owners benefit. This is the same as descending the skunk, it's for he owners benefit. It seems to me that in societies certain things are deemed acceptable and certain things not. Can't get my head around it.

Just to add, I'm not aiming this at you ambyglam just my first comment, the OP obviously has a genuine concern for thier situation and you comment like you did.

why should it be allowed ?

spaying an nutering have been done for years on many animals an reason for it being done in animals...... cancer in them being a big one

i own descented an fully loaded skunks so i dont care tbh

i just wondered why you said they should be able to descent them.............are you a want a skunk but not allowed one unless its descented person ?


oh an by the way my full load skunks smell better than my descented ones

[mat_worrell]

Cancer being the reason for neutering....... I don't thing so. Look at it like this, wen is you got a cat from a rescue centre, they will ensure it is spayed or neutured!! Reason..... They are inundated with unwanted pets and by spaying and neutering they are doing thier bit and ensuring they are stopping any more unwanted pets from that animal. Not cancer!!

Personally when I get a skunk it won't bother me, I think deep down the idea of a descended skunk gives people the peace of mind that I cant spray!! Although a well socalised fully loaded skunk would no spray unless seriously threatened!!

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by mat_worrell

Cancer being the reason for neutering....... I don't thing so. Look at it like this, wen is you got a cat from a rescue centre, they will ensure it is spayed or neutured!! Reason..... They are inundated with unwanted pets and by spaying and neutering they are doing thier bit and ensuring they are stopping any more unwanted pets from that animal. Not cancer!!

Personally when I get a skunk it won't bother me, I think deep down the idea of a descended skunk gives people the peace of mind that I cant spray!! Although a well socalised fully loaded skunk would no spray unless seriously threatened!!

yeah lol matt your going on rescue statistics im going on vets statistics............

bit different hey

look i own both full loads an descented so have experience with them both as do many others on here

[mat_worrell]

And what? I'm not claiming to have any experience!! Just stating my opinion.

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by mat_worrell

And what? I'm not claiming to have any experience!! Just stating my opinion.

yeah an thats all it is unless its backed up ................