Heirloom Tomatoes: Other Uses
I Found another use for heirloom tomatoes last night. Skyler, my Kuvasz managed to tick off a skunk. I let the dogs out for their evening constitutional and the next thing I knew Skyler was barking up a storm in the woods. Deer? Raccoon?
I called and called to no avail. She was completely ignoring me. I stepped outside to go get her, and at the same moment she came bolting out of the woods at a dead run. The smell hit my nose before she even got close.
Have you have ever smelled the air right after a skunk has sprayed? It smells nothing like what you would normally identify as skunk. It’s strong, pungent, and eye watering. Almost petrol chemical in nature. I recognized the smell immediately as my golden had an encounter with one years ago. Why does this always happen late at night, after a long hard day when all you can think about is your warm, soft bed?
What was my course of action? Skyler lives in the house. Keeping her out for the night was not an option. A friend suggested taking her to a kennel. It is 11:00 at night and I am going to find a kennel that will take a skunk soaked dog? Not to mention putting her in the car…that would be ugly!
The only remedy I could think of was tomato juice. But of course, I didn’t have any on hand. But I did still have some heirloom tomatoes from my friend, Gray’s farm. Big, beautiful heirlooms that I had been drooling over. My favorites, the yellow-orange ones that are literally bursting with flavor, waiting for just the perfect moment to transform in to something delicious. 
Without a second thought, eyes watering, stomach heaving, I grabbed those two, gorgeous tomatoes, chopped them in half and began rubbing them all over her.
Tomato shrapnel was flying everywhere. Sadie was delighted! I think she thought food was falling from heaven. Who knew pugs liked tomatoes! She was cleaning up the mess as soon as it hit the floor.
Now if you know anything about the Kuvasz, they are a very dignified dog. This whole ordeal was a bit more than Skyler could take. She was obviously disgusted with the whole process. Somehow, I managed the rinse, skunk smell still present but vastly diminished. Skyler walked into the house, collapsed on the floor and gave me a sideways glance to let me know she wasn’t pleased. The only issues I have left are how to remove the tomato stain from her fur, and making the trip out to the farm to beg for more tomatoes!
There is one more thing I have to share about this whole experience. After everything was under control, I found out that there is a certain feminine product that is supposed to be very effective in getting the skunk smell out. When I heard this, I almost fell out of bed laughing. When they originally made this product did they think that women smell so bad that it needed to be strong enough to eliminate something as pungent as skunk spray? Seriously! Still shaking my head about that one.
joanna wrote on October 2, 2009
Oh! That is terrible! Poor doggy… Great thinking about the tomatoes though! 😀
Cindi wrote on September 20, 2009
Same experience-but you can’t use tomato juice on a white sofa, which is where my dog ran to trying to rub the taste off and out of her mouth. I’ve heard that peroxide and baking soda also work equally well and we usually all keep that around. I don’t know the exact recipe but I’m guessing a lot. I know baking soda is excellent for getting odors out of a lot of places and a 50-50 mix of peroxide and water also does a good job at odor control.
I think it’s funny that I also have a Sadie and a Skyler at my house. What are the odds of that? Skyler is my son and Sadie is the dog.
I’ll bet peroxide would also whiten skyler’s fur.
Susan wrote on September 21, 2009
Oh…I went through my white couch phase…children and dogs got me out of it! Love that you have a Sadie and Skyler!
jean wrote on September 20, 2009
Your story brings back so many bad memories, I can’t tell you how many times that happened to my dogs at 11 pm. I used to keep cans of tomato juice on hand at all times. One night the skunk got the cat and the two dogs. There is nothing fun about washing two big dogs and a cat at 11 pm on a Sunday night! I feel for you. You could try lemon juice to whiten his fur.
Heather wrote on September 19, 2009
Oh my, I do sympathize. I was sprayed by a skunk when I was 15. I didn’t have any heirloom tomatoes, though. I hope you can get some more tomatoes to make up for the loss!
ED2of6 wrote on December 19, 2015
How did you get sprayed by a skunk when you were 15?
EarthMother - In The Raw wrote on September 19, 2009
Oh noooooo. Don’t know what’s worse, poor Skylar getting sprayed or you having to forfeit those heirloom tomatoes. Tragic all around!
Hey, perhaps the feminine hygiene product will remove the yellow stains from her coat. 😀
Crystal wrote on September 19, 2009
I was at a bachelorette party and when I got home and let my dogs out at 1 in the morning- they killed a skunk! I was standing about a foot away when it was happening, trying to get them to leave it alone, and not get sprayed myself.. It is the most awful smelling thing I have ever experience. Trying to clean them up until 3 in the am and smelling up my house up- trying not to vomit, was not fun!! They still have a little bit of a stink but nothing like it did 🙂 I feel better knowing I wasn’t the only one dealing with this issue, but I’m sorry you had to deal with it as well!
Susan wrote on September 19, 2009
Oh my gosh! It is a hideous smell, no? Glad you didn’t get sprayed!
Susan
Eating Raw Foods Info wrote on September 18, 2009
I’ve heard about these skunk situations – not a pretty sight. Too bad you had to use your beautiful tomatoes that way, but I”m sure everyone appreciated it:-)
VeggieGirl wrote on September 18, 2009
Such a darling dog! Thank goodness the skunk situation is done 😉