PORTLAND — Katherine Schaeffer knew instantly something was wrong when she woke in the middle of a warm summer night to a horrible stench and her dog rolling all over her bed.
A skunk had apparently crept into her Grants Pass home and sprayed her dog and her belongings.
In a lawsuit, Schaeffer said the stink ruined more than $112,000 worth of her possessions. She’s also seeking $38,000 for other costs, including cleaning and living expenses because her home was uninhabitable immediately after the Sept. 12 incident.
But her insurance company, Safeco Insurance, has given her only a fraction of the amount — $2,000, the suit said.
Glenn Greenberg, a Safeco spokesman, declined comment because of the pending litigation against the company.
Schaeffer’s lawyer said part of the problem is that Schaeffer hasn’t been able to relay the full extent of the problem to her claims adjusters in Chicago.
The smell permeated everything, and even with repeated washings and treatments, she couldn’t salvage much, said attorney Scott Taylor of Eugene.
Schaeffer offered to send the adjusters the comforter off her bed so they could smell it for themselves, but they declined, Taylor said.
“You can’t take a picture of stink,” he said. “You’ve got to be there with your own nose.”
Schaeffer’s possessions weren’t the only things that reeked: She and her mixed breed canine smelled for days, Taylor said.
“Going in public was very embarrassing as heads turned, noses were fanned and people quickly moved away,” Taylor said.
He’s arguing that a “special personal property rider” on Schaeffer’s homeowner policy should cover the damages. She paid an extra $50 a year for the coverage, he said.
Oregon is home to two primary types of skunks: The striped skunk — which is widely recognized — and the more elaborately decorated western spotted skunk. The mammals strike widespread fear among humans and inspire perennial questions to pest-control experts about how to rid them from yards or under homes.
Earlier this year, authorities say a Michigan man accidentally burned down his house when he tried to force out a family of skunks from his crawlspace with a smokebomb.
A skunk’s stench can be fought with an array of treatments — including vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, ammonia and even bleach on walls and countertops.
But Schaeffer’s lawsuit said her best efforts to neutralize the musk failed for the most part.
Her lawsuit was filed last month in Josephine County Circuit Court.
