VIDEO: Skunks as pets?

Legalize domesticated skunks petition

"Death Row" Skunk Poster

In the news:

Getting behind skunks: Fayette County couple want lawmakers to allow them into homes 3/3/2008

Legislator from urban district considers skunk law  2/15/2008

Support bill that protects skunks By Calvin Wilson 2/14/2008

Pass state law to allow domestic pet skunks By Ken Walker 2/13/2008

Gift sparks effort to change law on skunks 2/10/2008

Illinois Wildlife Code
Illinois Domesticated Animals Act

Striped skunks make wonderful safe pets and have been mislabeled and unfairly banned in the state of Illinois. Many neighbor states allow domestic (pen raised) skunks as household pets (Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky). They are a non-aggressive animal and when properly cared for have been proven to be no risk to human or other pet health or safety.

Also send your message thru Grassroots Action Center

For more information on pet skunks, see SkunkHaven

Bullet Points:

1.Like any mammal, including our domestic cat and dog, skunks are rabies vector, but pet skunks are no more risk to public health than your domestics. No domestic skunk can spray (no defenses); skunks dig, are curious, have no homing instinct. i.e. if you leave your skunk in your fenced in back yard and go to work, when you get home, skunk dug under fence to see what is there, got lost, and a predator more than likely got it. They are indoor house pets and like cat-toys, similar diet to any small pet, litter box, etc...

2 Eventually there will have to be approved rabies vaccine (Canada has one Imrab3).Right now estimates are it would cost 1/2 million dollars, not much money really, if there were an epidemic outbreak in the WILD population, our tax dollars would pay for it . How much more costly would it be when various state agencies across the country are paying the bill.

3 Here's a twist no one ever tried. Skunks are the Original American Companion Animal, they were the "noble striped creatures befriended by the natives" from Christopher Columbus' writings.

Key line: It is shameful to see a country with such a proud heritage abandon and neglect one of its original inhabitants most noble and loyal companions. It saddens me to see that we have reduced this wonderful creature to a status of nuisance animal and established no law allowing any compassion to be shown to this species. These beloved animals deserve to be loved and understood.
Specifics: Please support hopefully soon to be introduced amendment to HB4632 eliminating the ban on striped skunks in Illinois. Establish a permit policy promoting responsible ownership of these marvelous animals.

For more info contact Dominique Durbin at driller_dominique@yahoo.com or see her website

History on pet skunk ban in Illinois

Because of the risk of rabies in wild animals (especially raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and bats), the AVMA, CSTE, NACA, and NASPHV strongly recommend the enactment and enforcement of state laws prohibiting their importation, distribution, translocation, and private ownership. More HERE

For more on Illinois rabies cases, see Illinois Department of Public Health - Rabies. However, as the table below shows, wild skunks are not causing rabies epidemic in Illinois, and domestic pet skunks, who are indoor animals ,should be legalized.

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