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TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 37. Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf For a full preview of events and for previous episodes, please visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Years ago we stumbled across a trailer for the Turkish animated film Bad Cat, based on the graphic novel Kötu Kedi Şerafettin by Bülent Üstün. Now the film, directed by Mehmet Kurtuluş and Ayse Ünal, has been dubbed into English and picked up by Tubi. “In the film, a profane house cat must deal with the arrival of his illegitimate son, an accidental killing, his owner’s eviction, and more – all within a day of debauchery and mayhem.” As you can probably tell, this features a lot of adults-only content! Animation World Network has the trailer.

image c. 2023 Tubi

The Furry Writers Guild aims to improve conditions and opportunities for all furry writers. This is why we stand in solidarity with the WGA and the writers striking to improve working conditions in the film & TV writing industry.

During this time, there may be temptation for independent writers to step up and fill the gaps created by striking writers. Should writing in the film & TV industry be a long term ambition, then the FWG cautions our members against breaking the picket line and negotiating any writing role with struck companies. Even a seemingly-innocuous meeting may lead to complications with future WGA membership.

For more information on the rules around the strike, please see the WGA’s page here.

Everyone at the FWG hopes this strike comes to a swift and satisfactory conclusion for the writers of the WGA.

I thought I would try something new. In this post, I invite all my readers to ask me ANYthing about yours truly, Papabear (Grubbs Grizzly). You can ask me anything about the fandom, my furry experiences, and even my personal life.

You have opened yourselves up to me, and now it is my turn to do so for you.

So, ask me anything!

Just click the little Comments link to the left and leave your question. I will post the reply here. Make sure you activate the Notify Me button.

Hi Papabear,

I'm Shadey, and I was wondering, do you have any advice on how to have fun while fursuiting for fursuiters (if you know anything about that), but also be safe about it and reduce the risks of damaging your suit at the same time? Even if it's just suiting at home or in public, would there be any tips or any suggestions of what you could do to avoid any pricks to the fabric, tears or rips, or anything of those sorts and what not to do at all? Or, if not, would you recommend any other place that I could ask? Either way, any response to this question is greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

P.S. I have read some of your articles online before when going into Google for curious furry related questions or suiting advice and I really liked them! Gotta check out your website more as possible. ^^

Shadey

* * *

Dear Shadey,

Thanks for your question. I have been fursuiting for well over a decade now, so I believe I can answer your questions. Let's go through them by category (I'm German; I like order):

• Safety: I'm not sure how long you have been fursuiting, but it's a good rule to have a handler with you while you do it, especially if you're in unfamiliar territory. A handler is just a pal who comes with you to make sure you don't bump or trip on anything such as stairs, curbs, furniture, electrical wiring etc. As you know, vision is pretty limited in a fursuit, and it's hard to see where you're going. A handler can also help you in a fursuit lounge (aka deheading lounge) to help you take off your head, drink water, and get your fursuit back on again before walking the con. And, they can do things like keep children from grabbing your tail or hugging you from behind. These are all things that can keep you safe. Handlers can help you from damaging your suit, too, by helping you avoid obstacles and destructive people. (True story: I was once doing promo work in front of an ice cream store at Halloween and this guy ran up to me and dry humped my leg before I could stop him; OMG, his girlfriend was mortified; he was drunk as hell, of course). You should also remember to stay hydrated, and if you feel overheated, don't be afraid to dehead, even if you are in public. (I prefer to duck into a lounge or bathroom, but sometimes stuff happens to prevent that).
• Avoiding Suit Damage: No matter how cautious you are, over time you might get tears and wear on your fursuit. Before you don your outfit (actually, I do this a day or more beforehand), examine your fursuit for any minor tears or loose stitching or glue and repair them before they get worse. If you have soft footpaws (the soles of mine are hard rubber, so I don't worry too much), you might consider getting fursuit sandals. These are just very basic rubber souls with straps you can have made or go to YouTube and search for tutorials. This is pretty important if you have cloth or other soft footpaw soles and/or you go fursuiting outdoors or on any rough terrain. Oh, and learn some basic sewing and get a little sewing kit for travel.
• Washing: NEVER throw a fursuit into a washing machine unless you want to destroy it. If needed, hand wash your fursuit in a big sink or tub with a gentle detergent (I recommend Woolite for delicates). Between washes, spray the inside of your fursuit with a disinfectant such as Lysol, being careful not to do so in your fursuit head, especially around the eyes, unless you wish to cry from burning eyes. Concentrate on the smelly areas, including crotch, underarms, and feet. A gentle, sanitizing wipe can be used for inside the head. For larger particles of dirt, just carefully brush the fur with a soft-bristled brush or big-toothed comb (not fine-toothed).
• In general, before you fursuit, scope out where you plan to go (at a furcon, for example, I always wander around the hotel or whatever to see what's what and where's where). Try to avoid areas that are dirty with lots of hazards (plants, rocks), which is why I generally don't do parks or Ren Faires unless they have paved paths.
• When traveling, get appropriate bags to carry your fursuit. A lot of people use big rubber tubs, which is okay, I guess, except the lids come off unless you use bungee cords or some such. I prefer luggage. Good luggage. My fursuit is very large, so what I found is luggage designed for mascot suits. Yes! They have those! It's great for carrying my body and padding, and then I use another bag for my head, paws, etc. 
• Finally, store your suit in a clean, dry place, such as a closet. Don't put it, say, under a bed or in the garage.

That's off the top of my head. 

Gosh! I was concentrating so much on safety, I forgot the fun part LOL.

As for having FUN, probably the best way is at a furcon participating in activities like the fursuit parade and fursuit games that are designed to create a safe place for fursuiters to do their thing. Next would be furmeets, Good furmeet organizers will set up activities that are fun and safe for fursuiters, such as bowling meets or going to the movies. Third after this would be going to conventions that are furry friendly, such as a comic-con or the Doo-Dah Parade or Renaissance Faires. Next, might be charity events. For example, there is a group of furries who participate in charity fundraisers for ALS in honor of the late Dogbomb. Then there are special events such as Halloween or any costume party that might be going on. If you can't find anything, but you know of furries in your area, maybe organize a furmeet in your house.

Now, if you want to fursuit at public places, just make sure there are no restrictions. A big one, obviously, would be a place like a bank that doesn't want masked people inside (LOL). But you might be surprised about where there are restrictions on fursuiting. For example, some parks are privately owned and do not allow fursuiters. And you probably don't want to dress up as a bear or deer in the woods during hunting season (cf. CSI episode "Fur and Loathing").

Stay Furry!
​Papabear

MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!

Moobarkfluff! This week is chaos filled. Rayne Raccoon turns the transfurmation ray on Taebyn. We hear from Cheetaro reviewing Puss N Boots. Taebyn goes a looooooong way for some jokes and puns, and we play some trivia. So join us, won't you, for another fur filled adventure! Moobarkfluff!

 Wild Bills Soda

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This podcast contains adult language and adult topics. It is rated M for Mature. Listener discretion is advised.

Support the show

Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting S4E2 - Life in the Furry Lane

Whoa! One we missed from last summer: The Forest Beckons, the first volume in the new Order of the Night Jay series of graphic novels for young readers, created by Jonathan Schnapp. “Frank is perhaps the most un-bear-like bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. Actually, he’s probably the ONLY bear Camp Jay Bird has ever seen. And there are tons of bugs, he’s getting picked on, and he can’t seem to earn a single badge! But there’s Ricky, an excitable little raccoon who shares Frank’s love of Mega Bunny comics. But Ricky’s friendship might be more than Frank can handle. After breaking camp rules, getting lost in the woods, and discovering ancient secrets about the long-forgotten Order of the Night Jay, how will Frank explain all this to his dad?” It’s available now everywhere from Penguin Random House and Top Shelf Comix.

image c. 2023 Top Shelf Comix

You can watch "Furry Nights" for free on YouTube... but like why would you want to? Merch, Sweet Tees and stuff: https://culturally-fd-merchandise.creator-spring.com/ Support Culturally F'd: https://www.patreon.com/culturallyfd Listen in on TEMPO TALKS with Tempe O'Kun https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPyIK2c7mK-LpbvfDNqfcSW Check out Tempe O'Kun's books "Sixes Wild" and "Windfall" here: http://furplanet.com/shop/?affillink=YOUTU2907 Here's a playlist of his other Culturally F'd videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPS7tnT4hdJwBI-CeLF8Kb_

Time is short, go HERE to vote now! The fifth annual Good Furry Awards are closing soon on May 5, 2023. Anyone who wants to vote can do so, with 30 nominees to choose from, including four group nominees.

This award recognizes furries who make outstanding positive contributions to the fandom. The first one in 2019 went to Tony “Dogbomb” Barrett. In 2020 the award went to Ash Coyote. In 2021, Cassidy Civet won and in 2022 it went to Soatok Dhole.

Four prizes will be awarded based on voting. Three honorable mentions will receive trophies. A first-place winner will receive a trophy and a check for $500 from sponsor Uncle Bear Publishing.

This is the second year for the Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize furries who have made long-lasting contributions. It is selected by committee and will be announced at the same time as the Good Furry Awards. Last year’s award went jointly to Mark Merlino and Rod O’Riley, co-founders of the first furry convention.

Any furry can vote, but only once (don’t try multiple votes or they’ll be tossed out!) Browse the full list of nominees to learn about the fandom’s many worthy contributors.

Like the article? These take hard work. For more free furry news, follow on Twitter or support not-for-profit Dogpatch Press on Patreon. Want to get involved? Try these subreddits: r/furrydiscuss for news or r/waginheaven for the best of the community. Or send guest writing here. (Content Policy.)

Listen to Ray as he talks about what makes Infurnity stand out from other cons. Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/eZzfR0GYrgQ ---- Social Media: Official FABP Twitter: https://twitter.com/foxandburger Michael: https://twitter.com/foxnakh https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9xoFQrxFTNPMjmXfUg2cg Burger: https://twitter.com/L1ghtningRunner ---- #foxandburger #shorts #snippet #furry

We’re back for another year!
There have been no need for elections again this year as all incumbent candidates went unopposed. Due to this, your team of guild officers will remain unchanged for the 2023-2024 period. We are:

President: J.F.R. Coates
Vice President: KC (Kate) Shaw
Treasurer: Watts “Chipotle” Martin
Public Relations Officer: Resolute
Markets Manager: Vincenzo “Scribbles Cheetah” Pascuarella
Cóyotl Awards Chair: Madison “Makyo” Scott-Clary

We are all very happy to be continuing for another year, and look forward to helping expand the reach of the Furry Writers Guild during the next twelve months and beyond. Given there was no opposition in the nomination period, we hope this means our members are all happy with the work we have been doing!

May is usually the time when all the furry awards are announced, and this year will be no exception. The Ursa Major Awards closed for voting on March 31st, and the announcements for the winners are expected early this month. There is no date confirmed yet, but we will keep you aware of any updates when they happen!

The Coyotl Awards closed for voting recently. Maddy is in the process of finalising the votes and we are confirming how we will be presenting the awards. This will most likely be a livestream ceremony hosted through our Twitch channel. Details and dates to come.

There currently aren’t any updates on when the Leo Awards are expected to be announced, but these are usually a few weeks to a month behind the other awards, so may not be announced until next month. You all know the drill now – we will share updates when we know more information!

A note on the Ursa Major Awards – they are currently requesting any donations, no matter how small, to keep the awards going. If you are in a position to do so, please consider leaving a donation to help this award continue for many more years to come. Details can be found here.
We would also like to remind readers and writers alike about the launch of our Patreon page. Through this, we hope to ensure the guild is able to cover its own costs, as well as taking on the costs of the Coyotl Awards, which have previously been taken on by the award chair. This could allow us to expand the impact of the awards, giving us more options in the future to make them bigger and better in all aspects.
We hope that our members will consider the Patreon page as a way to provide voluntary dues in the absence of any regular membership fees, and that readers can use it as a way to benefit furry writing as a whole. We are grateful for any support that is given, and in the future we will look to ways to reward that generosity with more tangible benefits.

There are a number of anthology calls still open throughout May, with one closing within a week of this post going live. If you’re stuck for writing ideas, these may help spark that creativity.

Dog Save The King – Deadline May 19th
Get Wild – Deadline September 1st
This Is Halloween – Deadline When Full
Furry Femdom Erotica – Deadline When Full
F/F No Erotic Anthology – Deadline When Full
Isekai Me! – Deadline When Full
Children Of The Night – Deadline When Full
Furry/Lovecraftian/Erotic/University Themed Anthology – Deadline When Full
Beyond Their Pale – Deadline When Full
#ohmurr! – Deadline: Ongoing
Zooscape – Reoccurring submission windows.

Please also consider picking up one of the following pre-orders or recent releases from our fantastic members:

A Zookeeper’s Guide To Dating, by Roan Rosser / Ian M. Keller. Released April 4th 2023.

HIV Isn’t Poetic, by Jonathan W. Thurston-Torres. Released May 3rd 2023.

Don’t Ask Me If I’m Okay, by Jessica Kara (Jess E. Owen). Available for pre-order. Released May 16th 2023.

Werecats Emergent, by Mark J. Engels. Available for pre-order. Released May 20th 2023.

As always, if you are a FWG member and have a new release you would like added, please get in contact!

On behalf of all FWG officers, I would like to say thankyou to the members for trusting us to continue our leadership for the next twelve months. I hope we can repay that faith and help expand the guild and better the state of furry writing for everyone.

Until next month.
Stay safe and happy writing.
J.F.R. Coates

以《健美大學》系列聞名的獸圈漫畫家奇塔，即將推出他的最新力作《祭3》，這是奇塔構思五年推出的漫畫，共有超過500張分鏡，同時是他目前作品中最多頁的一本。此次《祭3》的發行消息一推出就引起熱烈關注，對於奇塔的粉絲們來說，這絕對是一個重大的消息。

在此次《祭3》的發行中，奇塔展現了他在畫風上的顯著改變，值得注意的是，此次的漫畫中沒有任何成人內容。至於出場人物的方面，本次《祭3》已經確定幾乎所有過去「祭」系列的成員都會回歸；其中包含在《祭》和《祭2》中出現的狄努和嗚提，以及在《塔迪 性慾囚牢》和《卡杜 雄慾王酋》中的卡杜和塔迪。同時，出現在《卡杜 雄慾王酋》片尾片段出現的安特洛斯和厄洛斯，以及傳說中的大魔王希莫勒斯也將以客串的形式回歸，讀者們可以多加期待自己喜愛的角色將再次出現在奇塔的作品中。

《祭3》將一層一層揭開魔王希莫勒斯的意圖，從奇塔目前的釋出的宣傳內容，據傳希莫勒斯的意圖就是收集包含嗚提在內的全部「淫靈」，而他背後目的則藏在《祭3》內，等待讀者來挖掘。 此外，《祭3》也是獸圈少見的純劇情本，以及應用類似DCU、MCU的宇宙系列創作。整本漫畫共有84頁，不僅如此，《祭3》的封面、相關作品的宣傳影片都是以電影宣傳片的風格來製作，奇塔表示自從《祭2》之後，製作預告片就是《祭》系列的傳統，本次的《祭3》可以說是《祭》宇宙的大事件，理所當然這次要有預告片，而會採用類似DCU、MCU的宇宙系列風格創作則是因為《祭3》是比起前作嚴肅，而且完全劇情走向的里程碑。相信這樣的製作方式將讓讀者更加深入了解《祭3》。

奇塔這次也同時推出《祭3》的五周年紀念福袋，福袋內容除了原本的祭三之外，還有帆布袋、滑鼠墊、海報之外，還有不少未公開的內容。雖然這次的漫畫中沒有任何成人內容，但想要看成人內容的讀者有專屬的R18新刊《雨》，奇塔同時也逗趣的建議讀者先看完《雨》再看《祭3》，不然可能會胃痛。

奇塔同時向《祭》系列的讀者表示感謝之意，並表示這次會製作福袋的原因是為了感謝這七年內關心自己創作的粉絲，他們值得獲得這些新的東西來保存，是一種對讀者的感謝。

奇塔一直以來致力於打造充滿個性化與美感的作品，以獨特的風格和內容贏得了廣泛的讀者喜愛，相信此次《祭3》的發行也將吸引更多的讀者，讓獸圈出版業界出現一段不同以往的純劇情本風潮。

MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!

Moobarkfluff! Huge Furry YouTuber Skuru sits down with Taebyn, Bearly and Rayne for an in depth discuss about their channel, their life as a Border Collie, and generally about all the things Taebyn wants to know.  We share some stories and jokes and have a super time.  Join us for an hour and learn all about Skuru. Moobarkfluff!

 Note:  This "Spotlight episode" contains explicit language and is rated M for Mature.

Skuru's Playlist

Skuru's Twitter

 

Wild Bills Soda

 

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This podcast contains adult language and adult topics. It is rated M for Mature. Listener discretion is advised.

Support the show

Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting Spotlight on Skuru

TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 36. Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf For a full preview of events and for previous episodes, please visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

1. Introduction
2. What Are Furries?
3. What Is A Fursuit?
4. Should Kids Identify As Furries?
5. Why It May Be Harmful For Kids To Identify As Furries
6. Common Misconceptions About Furries
7. Resources For Parents With Furry Children
8. The Takeaway

Article Content

• What Is A Fursuit?
• What Are Fursuit Accessories?
• Furry Badge
• Ring
• Collar
• Piercings
• Props
• Name Tag
• Cooling Vest
• Where Can I Buy Fursuit Accessories?
• How Expensive Are Fursuit Accessories?

Introduction

Anyone who keeps up with mainstream media and social media would have come across the term ‘furry.’ Unless you know its background and its implications – social and sexual – you might think it’s merely a term to describe someone excessively hairy.

But ‘furry’ is more than that. In fact, it’s an entire fandom at this point. The origin of this fandom can be traced back to the 1980s with the start of fantasy and science fiction conventions that gave birth to displays of artworks and stories that discuss animal-human hybrids.

It is believed that the term ‘furry’ was also coined around that time by its fandom. However, there’s no clear originator who could be credited with the foundation of this name. Some speculate that the term comes from ‘furry animal,’ a term many sci-fi stories use to describe animal-like creatures.

The general public and media have perceived the concept of furries in many ways, from fun-loving fans of anthropomorphic animals to sexual deviants. While there’s not much harm in adults using this term or identifying as it, the kids’ involvement in the fandom is thought to be a no-no by many.

But what’s the truth behind furries? Should kids identify as furries? We dissect this topic in detail below.

What Are Furries?

Furries are a subcultural group of people with a deep interest in anthropomorphic – with human-like characteristics or qualities – animals. Identifying as a furry could mean creating artwork with anthropomorphic animals or dressing up as these creatures.

Over the years, the furry community has become a diverse group of people who express their interest by creating art, holding conventions, dressing up in ‘fursuits,’ and socializing online.

Most furries take on or create fursonas or animal personas to represent their identity. These personas may be based on mythical creatures, real animals, or made-up species.

Quite interestingly, the furry community is not limited to the general public. Many believe that celebrities are members of the furry fandom too.

For instance, there are speculations about Shakira having a fursona because she voiced Gazelle for ‘Try Everything‘ in the 2016 movie Zootopia, a movie about anthropomorphic animals. While Shakira has not personally confirmed this, some other celebs are openly furries. One of them is Adam, the creator of Your Movie Sucks.

Fans also got excited about Lil Nas X joining the fandom as it was reported that he met with SonicFox, possibly one of the most famous furries and FGC players in the world. There are plenty of Reddit threats where fans speculate, confirm, and deny the furry status of some celebrities.

However, the stigma around the furry fandom and negative misconceptions surrounding this seemingly harmless interest often restrict people to the ‘closet.’ But it’s important to remember that being a furry is not a sexual or harmful fetish. Instead, it’s a mere form of creativity and self-expression.

Cat Fursona

Image via Twitter

What Is a Fursuit?

A fursuit is a costume resembling an anthropomorphic character or a fursona. Furries usually wear fursuits to express themselves in a unique way. Most fursuits are made using synthetic fur or foam padding. While some cover the whole body, others only cover the feet, hands, or head.

Wearing a fursuit is not a must-do to be a part of the furry community. Most furries only wear fursuits when attending conventions or events. Some people think furries always wear their fursuits, but it’s a misconception. Since fursuits are made of synthetic material, they’re often uncomfortable and hot to wear for long periods, making it impossible for furries to wear them on a regular basis.

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"The artists had amazing response times and were constantly updating me on my piece" Clara Draw My Fursona Should Kids Identify As Furries?

Whether kids should identify as furries or not is a concern that arose primarily when a New York-based family therapist Sara Stockon said in a documentary by Matt Walsh that school kids were increasingly identifying themselves as furries and disrupting classrooms.

She went on to say that kids were reported to purr and meow instead of answering their teachers’ questions. The teachers were prohibited from asking questions since being a furry is considered a queer identity, and any queries about it would be viewed as a form of discrimination.

There were also reports of students dressing up in their fursuits and asking for litter boxes in schools. Despite these claims, there have been no videos, pictures, or oral accounts of any of these incidents happening in schools across the US. Reuters fact-checked these claims and found nothing substantial for them.

Having said that, it’s pretty natural for kids to be curious about different things, and identifying as a furry or having an interest in furries can be part of that. Before coming to an objective answer to whether kids should identify as furries, it’s essential to look at both sides of the coin.

Why It May Be Harmful For Kids to Identify As Furries

At its core, the furry fandom is all about self-expression and having fun. But it’s not always entirely safe for kids to be a part of the fandom, especially openly.

For one, kids do not fully understand the implications of the fandom and may not be able to make the most informed decisions about their actions and words. The lack of maturity might put them at harm, making them more susceptible to inappropriate content and dangerous behavior.

In many instances, the furry fandom can also act as a gateway to adult content, which is obviously unsuitable for children. Again, their age might make them more vulnerable to exploitation and grooming.

Moreover, there is a social stigma around the furry fandom, associating it with fetishism and sexual deviancy, which can result in negative psychological and social consequences for kids. Children who identify as furries may be harassed, bullied, or discriminated against in schools. Research shows that furries are bullied twice as much as their non-furry counterparts. Even worse, if they do not have a supportive environment at home, their interests might lead to rifts between them and their family members.

All of this can accumulate into excessive emotional distress, especially for children who feel rejected or ostracized by their family and peers. Being exposed to such confusing and often misunderstood concepts can also cloud a child’s perception of their sexuality and identity, making it harder for them to navigate these concepts later in their adult life.

Keeping all these things in mind, one can say that there’s nothing wrong with kids identifying as furries as long as they are aware of the risks. Parents should also make sure to provide a supportive environment for their kids and ensure that they can freely express themselves without any negative consequences.

Group Of Fursuiters

Image via Metro Weekly

How to Keep Your Furry Child Safe?

If your child wants to express their creativity and interests, you can provide them with a safe environment by following a few tips.

Educate Yourself

There is a lot of misinformation spread across the Internet about the furry community, which can make it hard for many parents and family members to find reliable information. Do some research and talk to other furries or experts in the community, so you can accurately understand what being a furry means.

You can also attend furry conventions to support your child and interact with other parents to learn more about safety measures, like parental supervision and online privacy.

Have Open Communication

Establish open and comfortable communication for your child so they can come to you without fear of ridicule or judgment. Practice active listening and show them you care about their concerns and interests.

You should also set boundaries regarding their screen time and online behavior to ensure their safety. Look for monitoring software to keep track of their activities.

Follow School Rules

If your child’s school has strict rules about furry costumes or accessories, make sure your kid follows them. The last thing you want is for your child to get bullied by their peers or the school administration. Breaking the rules also harms the furry community, giving them a bad name and adding to the misconceptions about them.

Furry Convention 

Image via them.us

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"My artist worked tirelessly on my reference sheet despite several complete revisions of the piece" Craig Draw My Fursona Common Misconceptions About Furries

One of the main reasons many parents are horrified by the idea of their kids exploring their interests through the furry community is the number of misconceptions surrounding this group. A lot of these stem from misinformation and resistance to understanding something new and different. Some of the most common misconceptions about furries include the following.

Furries Are Sexual Deviants.

Many furry-opposing groups believe that people who wear fursuits are zoophiles and other sexual deviants. However, there is no evidence to support this idea, and most furries are well-adjusted members of society who dress up as animals to express their creativity.

While it’s true that there’s a sexual component to the fandom, it’s not the prerequisite or primary focus. Most furries engage in activities such as art and costume-making, gaming, or music instead of sexual activities.

It’s essential to keep in mind that furries are people, and people have sex. Just because they might do it in a costume or a tail doesn’t mean they are sexual deviants.

Furries Support Bestiality.

Since furries have fursonas and wear fursuits, many people believe they are into bestiality. Again, this is wrong since furries are merely interested in anthropomorphic animals and not actual animals.

All Furries Have a Fursona.

Again, not true. Not all furries have a fursona, and not every furry needs to. A fursona is just a personal character a person might use to represent themselves, but a furry doesn’t require a fursona to be accepted into the community.

Some furries only enjoy creating artwork, while others only appreciate others without actively participating in the dress-up side of things.

Furry Fandom Is a Cult.

The furry fandom is the farthest thing from a cult since there is no hierarchy or leadership. Similarly, furries do not have any specific rituals, beliefs, or practices enforced on others.

Fursuiter At Furry Convention  

Image via Insider

Resources for Parents With Furry Children

Thanks to the Internet, there are many resources for parents to learn about their children’s interests. If you want to learn about the cultural aspect of being in furry fandom, you should check out the Culturally F’d YouTube channel.

It also helps to get the perspective of another furry parent, especially when your child is just getting started with exploring their interests. Moms of Furries is a popular channel where parents of furries can learn from a parent with first-hand experience of raising a furry child.

There are online forums and groups dedicated to furries that you can join to learn more about their lifestyle, such as Furry Amino or the Reddit Furry page.

FurScience is another good resource for parents since it’s a research group that studies the fandom and provides science-backed insights that could be helpful to parents trying to understand the furry community in depth.

If you want to take your child to a furry convention, Anthrocon is the best option. It is the largest global furry convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, every year, joining the furry fandom from all over the world. The convention has various activities, such as art shows, dances, workshops, and panels. You can check the convention’s website to see what they have in store for this year. 

Attendees don’t necessarily have to wear costumes or fursuits. The convention also has a marketplace where you can buy merchandise. Overall, the idea of Anthrocon is to make furries feel welcome and give them a safe space to interact with others with a shared interest.

The Takeaway

The territory surrounding the self-identification of kids as furries should be tackled with the same level of caution and understanding as any other lifestyle choice. It’s important to remember that furries are just people with interests that may differ from the mainstream.

Parents should understand the social, sexual, and financial aspects of the fandom and be aware of potential risks when their children become more active in the community.

The best way to understand what your child is going through and how they feel is to talk openly with them without judgment. Educate yourself about the fandom, understand their interests and passions, and support them in their journey of self-discovery.

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Up next at the Festival of Books was the Dogfish series of illustrated books, written by Rita Reed and with art by Craig Cartwright. Starting off with Dogfish Saves The Ocean: “Dogfish is enjoying a beautiful day in the ocean when suddenly he sees his friend Turtle with a straw stuck in his snout! After he calls his friends to help, they all discover that ocean pollution is a BIG problem! Join Dogfish and his friends as they learn more about pollution and what they can do to help.” All the books are available now from Fine Eye Media, including Dogfish Stands Up To Bullying and Dogfish: Just Be You!

image c. 2023 Fine Eye Media

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Moobarkfluff! Taebyn's Hubby; Tatsu, joins us to impart Rhody Wisdom! We get some math, do a little This or That, tell some really bad puns and jokes, and generally have a typical BFFT time! So join us, won't you, on our furtastic adventure! Moobarkfluff!

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In todays broadcast, I had the honor of speaking to Major, Director of BlueRidgeFurFare. We talk about the beginning, present and future of the convention. NCAS - North Carolina Anthro Society https://ncanthrosociety.org/ BRFF - BlueRidgeFurFare https://www.blueridgefurfare.com/ Bewhiskered https://www.bewhiskeredcon.org/ If you like the work I do please like/follow/share to support the channel I'm on multiple platforms https://twitter.com/GrovelHusky https://t.me/grovelreports Subscribe to show support https://www.youtube.com/c/GrovelHusky/?sub_confirmation=1 Grovel Reports Studio made by Kydek https://twitter.com/FluffyKydek Banners used in the channel were made by Slushi https://twitter.com/Slushi3Brushi3?s=09 Music created for Grovel Husky by Whooshagg https://whooshagg.com/ Many thanks to Da Bean for taking photos/recording https://twitter.com/MagotterD A Brief History Of BlueRidgeFurFare #blueridgefurfare #furry #bewhiskered

Recently made a visit to the L.A. Times Festival of Books in Los Angeles (of course), and as usual came across some interesting furry items we want to tell you about. First up is the Red’s Planet series of graphic novels by Eddie Pittman — a Disney animator who worked on films like Emperor’s New Groove and Lilo & Stitch, as well as TV series like Phineas and Ferb. Here’s the run down: “Meet Red, a quirky, headstrong 10-year-old who longs to live in her own perfect paradise far away from her annoying foster family. But when a UFO mistakenly kidnaps her, Red finds herself farther away than she could have possibly imagined—across the galaxy and aboard an enormous spaceship owned by the Aquilari, an ancient creature with a taste for rare and unusual treasures. Before Red can be discovered as a stowaway, the great ship crashes on a small deserted planet, leaving her marooned with a menagerie of misfit aliens. With her newfound friend, a small gray alien named Tawee, Red must find a way to survive the hostile castaways, evade the ravenous wildlife, and contend with Goose, the planet’s grumpy, felinoid custodian. Surely this can’t be the paradise she’s been hoping for.” Three hardcover books are out so far from Amulet.

image c. 2023 Amulet Books

A short episode this time, and a freebie. Fuzz and Savrin watched the movie Bullet Train, try a terrible wine cocktail, talk about cookbooks, twitter nonsense, and Savrin finds out malls are a police state. 

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Episode 535 - Bullet Train Vibes