I've been up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night trying to solve the mystery of the skunked den, front hall, office, and office closet. The dogs didn't get skunked but clearly someone slobbered and sneezed skunk in here, much like happened in 2024 on Mother's Day. The smell isn't nearly as strong as last year, but it is unmistakable. Thing is, the dogs haven't been skunked. It was strong in the kennel in the den and on the floor mat under my desk, where Cookie likes to sleep when I'm working. Cookie was already outside and I sent Pepper out and closed the dog door, then sprayed Skunk Odor Remover. I could see a path of slobber. When I took the spray bottle out to spritz on the dogs, I realized neither of them had a hint of skunk.

I took a flashlight through the house looking for a skunk they might have dragged in, but nothing, and they'd alert me big time if there was an animal in here now.

Since I'm awake I decided to write down the event, as the start of the trail of breadcrumbs to follow when I get up again in a few hours.