Cloudy skies makes a happy dog walker and tree kangaroo

Just a quick note to say just how happy I am that summer is not in full force yet. We have had some rain, some cool weather, some wind. Thank you nature! I know the heat is still coming but this has been a good transition for me and the dogs. It takes us all time to get acclimatized. When it’s not cloudy I stick to the shade and grass as much as possible. But clouds help a lot and I am very thankful for a nice cloudy sky when I am out there.

Speaking of clouds…

I have had a barrage of tree kangaroo content coming at me and they are adorable and super cool. Literally and figuratively. At least 6 species are native to Papua New Guinea. Some of which live in what is called the cloud forest. Despite the lush warm jungle image that may put in your mind it is actually cool, rainy, and covered in fog because it is at a high elevation. The cloud forest or ‘upper montane forest’ is 3000 metres and up. It looks similar to the rainy coast here in BC, just different vegetation.

So what is a tree kangaroo? It is an adorable small marsupial (15 to 30 lbs or 7 to 14 Kg), and unlike it’s ground dwelling relative they are adapted to live their lives in the trees with slightly longer arms and a long bushy tail that helps with their balance. They do not look much like the kangaroo we know so I recommend googling them. Their upper bodies look very muscular and their legs are much shorter/smaller, all to keep them safe when they are moving around up in the trees. Each species looks unique with a range of colouring and distribution. Their diet consists of tree leaves, moss, bark, seasonal fruits or roots. Many of the species are endangered or critically endangered so conservation of their habitat is of utmost importance.

Want to learn all about the Matschie’s tree kangaroos and their conservation? Visit treekangaroo.org and nationalgeographic.com (also known as “Huon” tree kangaroo, from their location in the Huon peninsula of Papua New Guinea)

Listen to this Just the Zoo of Us episode: Tree Kangaroos w/Lisa Dabek!

Want to learn about other tree kangaroos? Visit tenkile.com and ifaw.org

I went to the Pets Canada Industry Show at the Tradex on May 25. I had to visit a lot of pets that day but squeezed in a few rounds of the trade show floor to see all the cool pet stuff. I also got a bag full of samples which was a huge bonus!

Cool Cat Stuff

One of the most exciting aspects of this event was the sheer amount of cat stuff and the new and innovative cat litter options. Yes, how appropriate for The Scoop, I am finally focusing on cat litter. As you may have guessed I am obsessed with cat care and better options for cats and cat parents. So, when I see companies really focusing on better products for cats and cat parents I get excited. I also love dogs, don’t get me wrong! But, cats deserve just as much attention and quality of life as dogs do. And, it’s good to see the market is providing that finally, and hopefully will continue to improve and innovate.

Why am I passionate about cat litter in particular? Well, I scoop dozens of cat litter boxes each week. The dust, tracking, scoopability, and smell are a big part of my work day. I am always comparing brands and the ease of use. Dust in particular drives me up the cat tree so to speak. It’s not good for the cats either. I think with seeing so many different set ups and litters in use I have a good perspective on when it is not good (a.k.a. ‘really sucks’).

What I like is no dust (or at least very little), less or no smell, and excellent scoops with no disintegration. Many cat experts recommend sandy clay litter because cats prefer digging and scratching after they use the box. However, I think there are a lot of better options out there now that still gives cats what they want.

My favourite new product was a corn and cassava blend. I met a very gregarious salesman for Sustainably Yours who has 8 cats of his own. He demonstrated this new blend and explained why it works. The mix is what matters, and the combo clumps amazingly well, it felt like a rock because it dries out completely which kills all the bacteria. In turn that eliminates the smell. And, because it’s fully biodegradable he uses it in his garden as a fertilizer for his trees!

There was another company, Pawsknow, based in BC, that had a brand new litter with a colour changing technology that can detect changes to your cat’s urine. They were very friendly and it’s super cool that there was a local company with such a useful product. pawsknow.com or follow pawsknow_smart_litter on Instagram.

Cool Dog Stuff

One of my first stops at the show was at the Loopit Safety Leash booth. And, lucky for me they had an excellent bundle price for show attendees so I bought a few extras to have on hand. Super nice people that really care about dogs and their safety. I like their product because it provides that extra level of safety that keeps dogs from getting loose, and being in danger. It is a slip lead but it attaches to their regular collar or harness. So if something breaks or comes off you are still attached to the dog and can keep them safe. It’s brilliant. loopitsafetyleash.com

I also saw some cool treats made in Squamish, BC. There was a new company, Fraps, that just started this year. They make a dog version of a power bar to take on long hikes. They were really nice and I got some samples. Part of the idea is that it’s easy to put in your pocket and opening the wrapper will catch the attention of your pup even when they are busy sniffing and running and distracted. FYI ‘FRAP’ stands for ‘Frenetic Random Activity Period’ (a.k.a. zoomies). Check them out at fraps.ca. It’s worth a visit, their dog Alma is gorgeous and features heavily on their site.

Cool Hermit Crab Stuff

There was a whole booth with hermit crab shells and habitat stuff. I got Little Crab a slightly larger smooth shiny shell. Hopefully she likes it and moves in when she is ready. It seems that she prefers smooth round shells so some of the other textures and shapes I have tried were rejected. So, claws crossed, she approves of it and tries it out. Looking for a shell? Check them out at hermitcrabshells.ca

BC Annual Bat Count starting June 1 - this is citizen science and can help BC bat conservation so if you know of a roosting spot (like a barn) or have a bat box on your property find out more information on bcbats.ca

Abbotsford Parks and Recreation - Artist in Residence Aysha McConkey (also a biologist specializing in animals and insects) - Everything Bats Presentation June 10 at 6:30 Abbotsford Community Library; Artist-led Bat Walk at Mill Lake June 11 8:30 pm, meet at the Emerson Water Park Picnic Shelter (close to the pool); Both events are free to attend

Maan Farms, Abbotsford - Goat Yoga June 13; Summer at the Farm daily, dogs welcome on-leash for $5 (except in the u-pick section) info and tickets

Taves Estate Cidery, Abbotsford - Pup Picnic June 13 info and tickets

Tisol - Grandview, Vancouver - Ferret Meet and Greet with the BC Ferret Rescue June 20, yes it’s a bit of a drive BUT if you like ferrets this is worth the trip and follow the BC Ferret Rescue Society for more ferret events

Greater Vancouver Zoo, Aldergrove - Zoo Camps for kids July 6 to September 4 info

The Egg Store, Abbotsford - Farm Event August 7, 8, & 9 - meet the chickens, learn more about their farming practices, watch the planes and enjoy the view Event info

Ladner Memorial Park, Delta - Delta Community Animal Expo August 9, FREE to attend and on-leash dogs (or other on-leash pets) are welcome

White Cats Cafe, Abbotsford - Abbotsford’s first Cat Cafe is now open, hang out with cats and enjoy a snack or drink like their Turkish coffee. They now have breakfast More info

Abby Cat Daddy - last day for doubling your donation through a donation match is May 31 theabbycatdaddy.ca; 50/50 Raffle enter through June 30 Tickets

HugABull - upcoming online auction, follow them on Facebook to find out more details soon

SAINTS - The Amazing Raise, you pick your team ex. The Lettuce Liberation Front or The Mud and Sunshine Alliance (both excellent choices). Find out more here

LAPS - Paws on the Green Golf Tournament June 11, GreenTee Country Club Info

Be a Flight Angel - Are you flying through Calgary or Winnipeg on your next trip? Reach out to Heart & Soul Dog & Cat Rescue and K9 Advocacy Manitoba about being a ‘Flight Angel’ for them. This is a great way to contribute to pets in need, and they take care of all the logistics for the pets getting transported.

Heart & Soul Dog & Cat Rescue Society email heartandsouldogandcatrescue@gmail.com

K9 Advocacy Manitoba Sign up here

Want to follow and support local animal rescues? Find more information on our helpful Pet Parent resource pages here.

Bark & Whiskers had some good infographics I thought were super helpful. Follow them on Facebook for pet care tips.

Dogs and cats

Have you noticed that that blue haze in your aging pet’s eyes? It is not a cataract forming but a completely separate and common thing called ‘lenticular sclerosis’. It can cause some difficulty seeing at night or seeing things close up. For more details check out dr.amanda.vet

Does your cat have a lot of toys that they don’t play with anymore? catscatscatsitting had a great post about this. The reason is that their prey (the toys) are already dead to them. So you need to interact with the cat and bring the toy alive again. For more details check out this post

Farm animals

My new favourite thing apparently, according to the Instagram algorithm (other than tree kangaroos) is barnyard wisdom and life coaching. Follow bradandthegoat if you also could use some therapy and motivation.

My favourites include:

Goat Wisdom - Eat first. Nearly every emotional crisis becomes less dramatic after a snack.

Advice from a goat - Confidence isn’t thinking you’re perfect. It’s moving anyway while looking mildly confused.

Advice from a goose - Take regular breaks. Stand near water. Look furious. Heal.

Advice from a sheep - Not everything is a disaster. Some things are just a gate.

Thanks for reading The Scoop!

Feedback is appreciated so please comment, like, share, or email us back with your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions.

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from Jennifer, Ziggy, Bean, and Little Crab

Furryornot Petcare

office@furryornotpetcare.ca

604-302-1780

Follow @furryornot on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Visit our online shop on furryornotpetcare.ca.

And, if you made it all the way here to the end thank you for reading!

We have 4 freebies to give away! The first 4 locals (Abbotsford and Mission) to email back will get a prize:

2 dog prizes, one Fraps sample and one pack of Tilted Barn treats

2 cat prizes, Catit Creamy pack and Hairball formula treat pack