Pet Idol Contest 2008

Well if you didn't already know, there is a contest for the local Pet Idol. Basically its a competition of regular homeowners and their pets. Pets can be anything you imagine. Domestic cats and dogs, to farm type animals (yes there was a horse) and even exotic animals (not a contestant but there was a skunk).

The second round for the Pet Idol Contest took place last night at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero Florida. The stage was setup back behind Hemingway's Grill and Paganelli Cucina near the man made lake. It was a great night with lots of participants and even pedestrians who came to watch the show.

I actually had a chance to sit down and chat with the couple with the skunk. This skunk, named Oreo, is a domesticated skunk. People actually breed them for household owners. They are de-glanded (the smelly gland is removed when young) and raised in the house so that they are familiar to their surrounds. Because they are house breed, these animals do not have the primal instincts as they wild counterparts. Very cute and cuddly in a relaxed environment. In fact it was told to me that there are only around 16-18 state which allow skunks to be home pets. With a little research and prospect owner can obtain a magnificent exotic pet within in reasonable time and cost.

I don't know so much about having a skunk myself, however our families pet was in the contest. Mr. Whipple is my mothers dog. He is a Dachshund with very unique coloring and history. At about a year old, he had lost all his hair and turned 50% white. We call him the reverse raccoon dog because he coloring is reversed from that of a raccoon.