英國人流行養臭鼬 稱比養貓狗更乾淨
There are those pet-lovers for whom a cat is too conventional and a mutt simply too it appears they wouldn’t turn up their nose at a skunk.
對於那些標新立異的寵物愛好者來説,養貓養狗可能已經過於平淡無奇,早過時了。對他們來説,哪怕是臭鼬所放出的臭氣也並非忍無可忍。
Breeders estimate that there are around 2,000 kept as domestic pets, and demand is increasing.
據相關人士估計,目前在英國約有2000左右的臭鼬被當成家養寵物,而且這樣的需求還一直在增長之中。
Katie Sleightholme, 30, allows her skunk, Busby, the run of her home. She paid £375 for her pet, who is 17in long, and weighs 10lb, but skunks can cost up to £1,500 in a shop.
現年30歲的Katie Sleightholme放任她的寵物臭鼬Busby在家中橫衝直撞。當初,她花了375英鎊買下了這隻17英寸長重10磅的小傢伙,而現如今,寵物店裏臭鼬的標價已經飆升到了1500英鎊。
The mother-of three, who already has two dogs, 13 guinea pigs, three rabbits and two hamsters, says her children Ella, eight, Alfie, five, and 19-month-old Maisie dote on their new pet.
Katie現在是三個孩子的母親,他們家已經養有兩隻狗,十三隻幾內亞豬,三隻兔子以及兩隻倉鼠,據她表示,八歲的Ella、五歲的Alfie和十九個月大的Maisie都非常喜愛這隻新寵物。
She said: ‘Most nights he will crawl up and sleep on my shoulder and snuggle into my neck.
她説:“常常在晚上,他會爬上來,趴在我肩頭睡着,就依偎在我的脖子旁。”
‘He’s incredibly affectionate and sociable. He follows the kids around when they are playing and even sleeps with the two dogs.
“他與人非常的親密,也很懂得交流,他會跟着三個孩子一起玩耍,甚至會和兩條狗兒睡在一起。”
‘We are trying to train him to walk with a lead and harness so we can walk him with the dogs.’
“我們正嘗試着訓練他有方向的行走,如此一來我們在遛狗的時候也可以順便帶他散步。”
Skunks are omnivores with a natural diet including insects, fruits, nuts, mice and other small mammals. Mrs Sleightholme, from the Wirral, feeds Busby chicken, which she tops up with fruit and vegetables.
臭鼬是一個自然派的飲食者,它們的食物包括有昆蟲,水果,堅果,鼠和其他小型哺乳動物雜食動物。Katie為Busby準備的飼料則有雞肉水果和蔬菜。
But he will dig into the dog’s dry food if left to his own devices,’ she said.
“但如果離狗兒很近的話,他更喜歡分狗兒的乾糧吃,”她説。