It's not as common as you make it sound. Years ago I had a "pet" skunk. It was one that I found wandering around when it was a kitten. I kept it in the barn almost a year and he eventually wandered off. Never had it descented. Never got sprayed. Acted like a cat mostly and was playful.
These days most states require a permit to house wild animals and here in AZ it isn't that easy to get that permit. I have one, but I only got it because I allow game and fish to rehabilitate injured animals on my property. I provide some care, but mostly just let them heal. Most of the animals here were or will be turned loose, so don't want to tame them.
A few couldn't be turned loose. An injured red tail hawk, went to the arboretum in globe. Can no longer fly. A golden eagle-same thing.
Had a black bear here for about 8 months, he got tame. Missing a back foot and most of his leg. He is in Prescott.
Anyway...some people are looking out for the wildlife, including skunks