On 9/28/16, a 4 month old pet skunk was euthanized in Tampa, Fl and tested for rabies because she had bitten a Veterinary Technician. Stompy had crawled under a piece of furniture to sleep. The owner found her the next day weak and dehydrated. Stompy’s regular Veterinarian was not available that day, but she recommended the owner take her baby skunk to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in Florida. On their website, it shows that they see Exotics, so it would seem a safe place to take a pet skunk. Exactly what happened is not known because they took the skunk out of sight of the owner to treat. The owner was notified later that Stompy had bitten the Technician and that they were going to euthanize her so she could be tested for rabies. The owner informed the Veterinarian that the skunk was up to date on all vaccinations, including having the rabies vaccine. However the vet Euthanized, decapitated and sent the head off of this baby skunk and the owner couldn’t do anything about it! Because that is the outdated law. How does this even happen in the 21 century? Someone takes their sick pet for help and the animal is euthanized not because it can’t be helped, but because of a bite wound vaccinated animal to a person whose job is to know how to safely restrain the animal. If this was a dog or cat, you would be reading about it in the newspaper, but because it’s a pet skunk, people don’t seem to take notice. Skunks are classified as rabies vector species, just the same as dogs, cats, ferrets and even humans. But the law states there is no quarantine period for skunks. The rabies vaccine isn’t even required for pet skunks because when the worst happens, as in this case, the authorities do not accept the rabies vaccine as protection because all vaccines are off label for skunks. Note, the very same authorities (USDA) spend our tax dollars by distributing rabies vaccines (Oral rabies vaccine bought buy our government, via the taxpayer , you and me, from the makers of that vaccine Merial) in the form of consumable bait for wild animals in many states to control rabies. Presumably, someone has verified the efficacy of this before spending quite a bit of money on the program. This skunk wasn’t even a wild animal, it was someone’s pet who was legally acquired from a licensed breeder to a permitted owner. The skunk was housed inside and the owner was current on more than the recommended vaccinations. So what should happen to prevent this in the future? 1. Merial should list those animals (skunk, raccoons, fox, coyote) names on the label of the vaccine that they are getting paid VERY GOOD for by USDA (aka us, because we are taxpayers that pay for the USDAs salaries and supplies). 2. Veterinarians and licensed wildlife rehabilitation workers should be allowed to administer the rabies vaccine to these animals, legally and supply that animals with a certificate and microchip to show it has had the vaccine. 3. Those animals listed, while in the wild, could be caught, vaccinated, tagged and released, to help eradicate rabies. 4. Those wildlife mentioned, after being vaccinated should get a quarantine time, if they do bite someone. Just like other vaccinated animals have. What would this accomplish? 1. No more senseless barbaric killing and decapitation of innocent animals. 2. Prevent the spread of rabies in the US. 3. Allow people with these animals to breath a little easier knowing their comfort animal and family member won’t be unjustly killed. 4. Help in eradicating rabies in The United States. PLEASE help us stop this insanity! Share this and talk about it. Sign the petition. Let’s make this fair for these animals. These animals are people’s family members. They are being discriminated against because of being born a skunk!