Jane Bone started a skunk rescue group called Skunks as Pets.  She also pioneered research about skunks and their care, and had vets calling her for advice on how to treat pet skunks.  Each year we give out an  award to people who exemplify Jane’s mission. This year we had several people receiving the award.  Jamie Blanchet, Vet Tech, with Veterinary Emergency Group of Tampa (VEG) received the award for her help in finding us a vet at the practice that could see and treat a skunk whenever emergency care was needed.  She helped in the emergency treatment of Gus, our skunk that lost one of his legs due to an skunk attack at his foster home, and also another rescue, Sammy.  The other recipient was Dr Karlie Bradtmiller and Veterinary Emergency Group of Tampa (VEG).  Last Christmas Eve one of our rescue skunks, Sammy, started having some neurological issues. We contacted Jamie who asked Dr Bradtmiller to take a look at Sammy.  Dr Bradtmiller had never treated a skunk before but she went the extra mile to consult with an exotics expert at another VEG location and they determined through testing that Sammy had an incurable disease that is usually seen in horses and takes quite a while to present itself.  Sammy had come from a farm and it is suspected that this is where he contracted the disease.  We would like to thank these wonderful people for their caring and compassion in taking care of our skunks