Some people keep dogs, others prefer cats—and then there are those who keep skunks as pets.
As part of a recent National Geographic cover story on exotic pet ownership, South Carolina-based photographer Vincent J. Musi captured several portraits of a special group of people who keep skunks.
Taken at Skunk Fest—an annual event in Ohio for skunk owners—each picture shows an owner lovingly carrying their foul odor-spewing pet.
According to Musi, he said, “The idea was to photograph the same kind of animal and show the diversity of ownership. What does an exotic pet owner look like? As you can see, they are as diverse as the animals they love. Their relationship [is] no different than one might hope to have with a dog or cat.”
“I don’t make any judgement for or against ownership of these animals,” he added. I’m just the messenger, but as an outsider, I find it fascinating that these people are connected in this way, by their love of an animal that is feared, misunderstood, and not often loved.”
Would you keep a skunk as a pet?
[via Laughing Squid and National Geographic]