warning to others

[Merifield]

I would advise the OP to go to Trading Standards.
Saying that the guy who sold her the skunk is not responsible for the refund is not quite right especially if he is trading as a business.
That would be like saying to someone who bought a puppy from a pet shop
that had health/behaviour problems that they should go back to the breeder!
Sadly this should be a warning that when buying a youngster it should be seen with its parents or they should at least be able to be seen.
Buying "job lots" of animals should be enough to make anyone suspicious
that the original seller wasn't quite on the level.

[Loderuna]

Originally Posted by Merifield

I would advise the OP to go to Trading Standards.
Saying that the guy who sold her the skunk is not responsible for the refund is not quite right especially if he is trading as a business.
That would be like saying to someone who bought a puppy from a pet shop
that had health/behaviour problems that they should go back to the breeder!
Sadly this should be a warning that when buying a youngster it should be seen with its parents or they should at least be able to be seen.
Buying "job lots" of animals should be enough to make anyone suspicious
that the original seller wasn't quite on the level.

Fraid not. Descenting is a known cause of prolapse. Anyone buying a descented skunk takes that risk. There is no comeback to Trading Standards in such a case. It's not the same as selling an animal with a health problem/behaviour issue.

[Merifield]

How about selling a skunk that you knew had been de-scented illegally even if you didn't arrange for the op yourself? Not someone I would be doing any
trade with.
There is a bigger question here too.... who was the vet that performed the op
and if it wasn't a vet who was it? Someone knows the answer so maybe the OP
should look into that.

[miss_ferret]

i think the problem with that would be that the OP went out looking for a descented skunk ie puposely went looking for an animal that has undergone an operation that is illegal in the uk. its like allerting trading standards because i bought a dog as a pedigree (or whatever) pitbull and then found out it was a staffie. terrible example but i cant think of anything better. if they had bought the skunk as fully loaded then descovered it had been descented when the medical problems started then they would have a case.

from what i understand the skunk was imported from ireland, if it was northern ireland then yes the vet who performed the op could be in trouble but if the skunk was from the republic of ireland then descenting laws may be different (i dont know if this is true, its just a theory)

[Emmaj]

Originally Posted by Merifield

How about selling a skunk that you knew had been de-scented illegally even if you didn't arrange for the op yourself? Not someone I would be doing any
trade with.
There is a bigger question here too.... who was the vet that performed the op
and if it wasn't a vet who was it? Someone knows the answer so maybe the OP
should look into that.

it wasnt done illegally the skunks are brought in from Ireland and its not illegal to descent skunks there so there has been no law broken by the vet that descented the skunk

[Big W]

is decenting illegal?

well it all depends on for what reason, just like with dogs tails if there is a reason to doc/decent then then no.
its perfectly legal to dock a dogs tail if for example its a working dog such as a spanial that is used for flushing, if it kept its tail it would get cut and damaged from them running through the brambles and such chasing out the birds, so docking would save the dog pain and suffering.

well its the same in skunks the problem is with the way the law is worded and who decides what is cosmetic and what is not, so vets just wont take the risk and to be fair i dont blame them.

in my view both tail docking and decenting should be fully legal as with like some certain dog breeders people will do DIY jobs which surly is a lot worse than a vet doing it.

[Merifield]

I had a lucky guess then (not.... do know some things)
The person that the OP bought the skunks from (or through (wince))
knew that de-scenting wasn't illegal in part of Ireland.
I think the OP has a real case to kick up a bit of dust!
I think the middle man ought to do the decent thing......

1. Make sure this little guy goes to a proper rescue.
2.Refund the OP's money and
3.Has nothing more to do with the guy who buys animals in "job lots" and has no interest in what becomes of them afterwards!

By the way I know none of you personally at all so have nothing to gain
from my opinions...

Middle man will will gain my respect if he does this .

[miss_ferret]

but from my understanding of the law the man who sold the op the skunk hasnt legally (leaving moraly out of it for a moment) done anything wrong. they imported the skunk from a country were descenting isnt illegal and sold it on as they knew people would (i assume) pay more for a descented skunk now it is no longer a routine thing. the op new this skunk had had the operation as it was what they requested, therefore they should have reserched the possible consequences of the operation. it was 'sold as seen' and they knew from the beginning that the skunk had had an unnecessary (as seen by some - me included) operation and should have been prepared for the consequences.

morally this may be a dubious situation (and i do think the seller was morally in the wrong) but i dont think they have legaly comitted an offence. as long as there is a market for descented skunks people will supply them as long as they can stay above the law (ignoring the black market for the moment), its good buisness (financialy) if nothing else

[slimeysnail]

Of course the original poster knew that descenting was not illegal in Ireland.. The only way people that want a descented skunk can go about getting one, is by having them imported from Ireland!! Because skunks can NOT be descented legally in the UK.. people get them shipped over from Ireland. I see no reason why the OP should have a refund, when she obviously wanted a descented skunk..hence getting it from Ireland. If she wanted a fully loaded skunk, then you can get them in this country for cheaper than a descented one from Ireland! People will ship them over from Ireland, and sell them for more.. because there will always be a market for skunks that are supposedly non smelly- when really, even descnted skunkies have a smell to them. As for wanting a refund because of the prolapse- this is an affect that sometimes happens as a result of descenting.. she should have done her research and knew about this. Taking on an animal that has been descented- you should be prepared for the possibility of the prolapsing, and if you are not, then you should have never even considered getting a skunk, let alone a descnted one that is at far higher risk of prolapsing.

As for getting rid of the skunk, and wanting a full refund, I would like to know the reason why the OP wants to do this. Is it merely becasue of the prolapse.. and the vet bills.. if this is so, surely that should have been considered well before tkaing on the skunk, as vet bills are sometimes inevitable- let alone taking the skunk to be neutered at the vet- costs involved etc. Or is it the fact the OP cannot cope with the skunk? If that is so- not enough research was done. and to be perfectly honest, feel extremley sorry for the skunk, and dread to imagine where it is going to end up if the OP gets rid of it..

[brittone05]

Surely basic research into the possible cause and effect of descenting would have pulled up that prolapses are not totally uncommon in descented youngsters?

Anyone will remember the pics of Pro, Nerys' little one with the severe prolapse. He went on to be perfectly fine as a result of his prolapse and I am sure this little one will.

Any operation - be it done in this country or another - carries small risks and if you were prepared to pay the extra for a descented skunk then, IMO, you should also be prepared for any possible effects afterwards. A good vet, suitable insurance and a very, very good basic knowledge of known health issues, post operative issues and general care and well-being of any new animal is a must. If you don't have them in place then, I'm sorry to say, you should seriously consider if you are truly ready for the animal. Having the cash to pay for it initially is fair enough but there will always be unexpected issues.

I guess in all said and done where skunky health issues can be discussed and seen, a prolapse is very little to deal with compared to what some poor skunk owners go through

( and I am not having a go OP so please don't think I am, just stating an opinion that is in no way biased into being horrible to anyone cos I isn't like that )