For the past 16 years, North Ridgeville, Ohio, has hosted pet owners from across the country to celebrate what founder Deborah Cipriani claims is the largest skunk convention in the world. This year, VICE’s Taji Ameen went to the annual Skunk Fest to check out its competitions and meet dozens of skunk enthusiasts and the descented animals they keep as pets.
On this episode of American Conventions, Taji meets the owner of a skunk sanctuary, learns what it takes to be crowned the festival’s queen or king skunk, and tries to find out why these feared mammals are becoming beloved pets in people’s homes.
Inside the Annual Festival Devoted to Skunk Owners
