Leading article: Scenting trouble
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fancy a pet skunk? Perhaps not, but beware of sounding unfashionable by saying so.
Skunks are not quite yet a "must-have" in the pet stakes, but as we report today, they are becoming popular; breeders have reported exceptional levels of interest this year.
Leaving aside well-known problems over their scent glands, it is not hard to see why some people find skunks attractive. Furry, docile, happy to share the home with other animals, not bothered by being left alone, they apparently can get by on dog biscuits. The perfect companion for a busy working person.
For all that, it's hard to imagine the mini-vogue in skunks staying the course. Every so often new pets come into fashion, only to disappear from the scene as fast as they came. Remember when alligators were all the rage in the US? Skunks may be trendy right now, but they will surely go the same way as so many other exotic pets have done before, leaving the field – or, rather, the fireside – to cats and dogs – tried and tested companions of humankind through the centuries.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments