If you’ve ever had the misfortune of having your dog run up to you covered with skunk scent —with the most adorable look of shame you’ve ever seen a dog display—you know that feeling of horror. It’s as if you’re being followed by a crazed chainsaw-wielding psychopath, and you just want to stay as far away from that impossible stench for as long as you can.

But this would be a bad choice, because the sooner you can clean up skunk spray from your dog after a stinky meet and greet, the better the results. As my friend Rhonda is fond of pointing out, the time immediately following a spray is not the time to be surfing the web for a recipe that might or might not work, rifling through your home and garage in a panic looking for everything you need, or making a trip to the all-night store.

After her dog Ukiah (pictured below) was sprayed late one evening and she found herself in that situation, Rhonda took matters into her own hands and created Skunk Kit (www.skunkkit.com). Only $29.99 plus taxes and shipping, the Skunk Kit contains everything you need to clean up your dog in an easy-to-store bucket. Each kit includes a poncho and rubber gloves to protect your hands and clothes, ingredients for the cleaning solution, a squirt bottle to mix the solution, eye wash (in case your dog’s eyes were sprayed), and instructions. Rhonda also offers several pointers on her website: www.skunkkit.com

One thing—and it’s a big thing—you need to have a Skunk Kit handy before your dog gets sprayed. I already ordered and received mine in the mail within a few days of spotting the first skunk of the season crossing the street in my neighborhood. Don’t be caught in a stinky situation without one for your dog!

Ukiah