Seriously - are people this stupid? Wait I know the answer...

[SallyF]

Quote:
No, you're not crazy, just a good human being!

 

[MysticScorpio82]

I think it's the rabies part the OP was refering to.

 

[Ec_Prokta]

-_- It could have rabies, could have stunk up the home, and many other things. I admire the fact that it was taken in, but I quite honestly would have took it to an animal shelter or some place like that.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
That I agree with ^-^

 

[pbjmaker]

Yep - it was the rabies and the wild animal part. I guess knowing that around here a lot of skunks have rabies I would not expose my family to that potential. I am not anti "helping" creatures in need.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
On this note, I have researched having a skunk for a pet over and over and over and have learned that, getting them as babies, having their gland removed, and keeping them with you 24/7 is the way to go. They are playful, loving, kind, and really LOVE their people! But the first 6 weeks of life, they NEED to near a warm body, like being carried or up against your chest, prety much 24/7. So I have to wait til I retire to get me my Pepe Le Peu. They also tend to be rather mischievious, much like ferrets.

 

[muscovy94]

My uncle has a pet skunk. His dog brought it up to the house one night. He bottle fed it and she is the sweetest girl ever. She has never sprayed. She lives in the house with all the chihuahuas and does just fine. Let me look I might have a pic somewhere.

 

[Stina]

i've known a couple people with pet skunks......even had someone bring one in to the pet store i work in! they're funny and adorable!

They can test for rabies w/o killing patient........but if someone isn't showing symptoms and exposure is expected they'll just give the rabies prophylactic treatment. (I did not read the article btw...)

 

[Emzyyy]

I'd prob take the baby skunk too.

We had a mother living in our neighborhood with two babies but the mother sprayed our dog so my dad shot her.

We never found the babies.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

honestly usually young animals who are infected with rabies show symptoms much quicker and die quicker than adults. I think the incubation period is 20 something days in a person from time of infection. - I know I had to have the rabies vaccines last year when I was bitten by a 1/2 wolf dog that was late on rabies and bit without reason.

Dog didn't have rabies - but they immediately gave me the first shot and 2nd shot because of 1. my description of his unprovoked attack and odd behavior and 2. because A/C reported he was 16 months late for his vaccine. SO - I got my shots while the dog was quarantined for 14 days.

I personally would pick up and take home a baby skunk - but being as knowledgable about animals as I am - as I'm curious for anything animal - always have been - I would 'quarantine it' myself - no one but me interact with it and keep adequate gloves and sleeves on at all times - so I couldn't be bitten and scratched thus being infected - and I'd only be putting myself at risk.

I have picked up dozens of stray dogs and cats of all ages and breeds and sizes - squirrels, possums, a young raccoon, bottle fed a baby fox for a few days, an owl for a week, and a bat for a few days (fox, bat, and owl - I had to care for till someone from elsewhere in the state could come and get them for rehabilitation). SO a skunk wouldn't be at all farfetched especially since I've heard of them being such good pets.

Rabies in animals is tested by 10-14 day obersvation which they tend to do in the case of animals and lower risk rabie carrier cases as is law - or if the animal is already/or starts showing symptoms or was a high risk (never been vaccinated - was in an outbreak area - etc) it is terminated immediately and a brain sample is sent to the lab for testing - this is 100% accurate.

Humans : I've never heard of an observation period in humans .

The usual wait period I've heard of is 72 hrs tops - the more severe the bite the sooner they give it to you - or some A/C / hospitals will give right away - especially since now its 1-2 shots usually 2 times - a week apart and you get it in the arm now.

Now I may be wrong - but this is what I've been told and have researched after I was bitten.