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Hey, Victoria: What's that smell? (Updated w/ pic)
By gabesemenza in Crowdsourcing
March 15, 2010

I walked outside for lunch and was greeted with something that almost erased my appetite -- the smell of dog feces. I've talked to others who say the city-wide odor reminds them more of catnip, but you get the point.

I did some checking around, and the Victoria Fire Department thinks the origin of the smell is the fertilization of Inez fields by a farmer or rancher who uses chicken manure -- an organic fertilizer.

Interactivity Editor CJ Castillo found this Getty Image, which sums up how we all feel today:

Image

The fire department said that while it hadn't investigated the smell, all signs point to this farmer's fertilization technique.

I've also heard the odor emanates from pasture lands just north of the city.

Do you know what the odor is? Have you seen the farmer who uses this fertilizer?

If you want to share your thoughts or stories, contact me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com. I need your real name to quote you in a story, so while you're free to post in here under an assumed name, contact me if you want to be in the story.

Thanks for your help,

Gabe Semenza / Advocate public service editor