A Florida couple returned after a month-long visit with their children to find 10 skunks had invaded their home through a window left cracked open.

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"I was sitting having coffee, and I saw five of them walking around my kitchen," said Stephanie Palieri. "I wanted to sit on the dining room table. I was scared. I wanted to be someplace high."

Retired and living on a fixed income, Palieri, 77, and husband Bill had no money to pay a trapper to rid their Palm Bay home of the smelly pests. Moved by their story, James Dean, who owns AAA Wildlife Removal, stepped in to help free of charge, Florida Today reported Sunday.

Local business owners also volunteered to help the Palieris when they learned the couple had been living without air conditioning for two years because they couldn't afford repair costs.

"It just kind of tugged at our heartstrings," said Kim Kaleta, whose husband owns Prem-Aire Cooling and Heating. "If one person or one company did one nice thing like this once a year, this community would come together and be a great place."