Late last night, I got within three feet of a spraying skunk. Got between it and my little dog, who had trapped it up against a corner of the house. I kept yelling at the dog to come closer to me as I opened the door just a crack to try and pull her in, while not letting the skunk get any closer to me or her, or worse, into the house. Finally, the skunk backed off enough for me to reach out and grab the dog’s collar and drag her into the house. Luckily, neither of us was sprayed directly. But damn, I’ve never in my life smelled anything so foul. Sure you’ve smelled skunk and it’s bad, but from a couple feet away, it’s truly noxious.

written by Christopher Murray