COVID-19 & Monkeypox (hMPXV) Resources

Keeping our community safe in the face of Covid-19 and Monkeypox (hMPXV) is of utmost importance to us. The first line of defense against these viruses is wearing a mask - ideally N95, though KN95 or surgical are also acceptable.

The other most important things to do are to get tested regularly and stay up-to-date on your vaccinations. This includes the flu shot, too!

In order to assist you, we have compiled resources for both Covid-19 and hMPXV to the best of our abilities based on CDC and local health department guidelines. We will keep this as up-to-date as possible.

See our event policies for Covid-19 and hMPXV HERE.

Last Update: February 4, 2023

COVID-19

VACCINATION

• At this time, everyone should be eligible to receive Covid boosters, including the bivalent booster, which came out in the Fall of 2022. The bivalent booster is important to get as soon as you are able, as it has been shown to provide protection against more recent Covid strains.

• Find a Vaccine Location and book your appointment HERE. You can also book your next flu vaccine through this website.

• Alternatively, you can also find a location to book your vaccine HERE.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about additional options through them.

TESTING

• If you are in Los Angeles, this website is a great resource for finding and booking appointments with testing centers all over the city.

• Find CVS testing centers and book appointments HERE.

• If you have health insurance, you should be able to order 8 free tests per month. For example - one of our leadership team has Medi-Cal, and has successfully done this through their local Walgreens by simply providing their information and asking for it. They were not charged.

• You can purchase a 5-pack of home rapid tests by iHealth from Amazon for $44.95 HERE.

• Order free at-home test kits through USPS HERE. Only 8 per household can be ordered when this option is available.

• If you have COVID symptoms, you should test immediately and isolate. Please do not attend any events or gatherings if you have symptoms, even if you test negative. Wait a couple days and test again. Do not attend a gathering until you have no symptoms and are still testing negative.

• If you have been exposed but do not have symptoms, isolate and test within 5 days. If you test negative, re-test 1-2 days later.

• Before attending an event or gathering, we recommend taking a test as close to your departure time as possible. This will give you the best chance at an accurate result.

• If you test positive on a rapid test, get a positive PCR test immediately. This is important if you have any Long Covid symptoms later on, a positive PCR will serve as better proof than a home test of your past Covid infection.

• If you have tested positive, it is generally thought that you are infectious as long as your rapid tests are positive (even if it's a dim line). Do not attend events and wear a mask during this time, until you have tested negative on 2 home tests spaced a 1-2 days apart. You will have positive PCR tests well after you are infectious.

hMPXV (Monkeypox)

VACCINATION

Currently, the hMPXV vaccine is available to:

1. Gay or bisexual men and transgender persons who had: Multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days OR Skin-to-skin / intimate contact (e.g., kissing, hugging) with persons at large venues or events in the past 14 days

2. People of any gender or sexual orientation who engaged in commercial and/or transactional sex in the past 14 days (e.g., sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, and other goods or needs).

3. People confirmed by LAC DPH to have high- or intermediate-risk contact with a confirmed monkeypox case (as defined by CDC and confirmed by LAC DPH).

4. People who attended an event/venue where there was high risk of exposure to an individual(s) with confirmed monkeypox through skin-to-skin or sexual contact. (Public Health will work with event/venue organizers to identify persons who may have been present and at risk of exposure).

5. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) with high-risk behaviors.

6. High risk cohorts identified by clinical staff in the LA County Jail system.

7. Other community groups at high risk of exposure to monkeypox as determined by the CDC/LA County.

Vaccination Options:

• Schedule via MyTurn.gov

• Consider one of these Walk-Up Facilities

• Talk to your healthcare provider about any additional options through them.

TESTING

• If you have been exposed to hMPXV or have developed symptoms (especially a rash), contact your healthcare provider to order a test.

• UCLA Health offers hMPXV vaccination, testing, and treatment.

• Total Testing Solutions offers an option to book drive-through testing.

PRECAUTIONS

If you are not yet eligible to get your vaccine but are concerned about staying safe, here are the recommended precautions:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like hMPXV. (Note: A party where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. If attendees are clothed and skin-to-skin contact is unlikely, the risk is lower. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.)

• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with hMPXV has used.

• Wash your hands often.

• Condoms (latex or polyurethane) may protect from exposure. However, condoms alone may not prevent all exposures since the rash can occur on other parts of the body.

• Gloves (latex, polyurethane, or nitrile) might also reduce the possibility of exposure. The gloves must cover all exposed skin and be removed carefully to avoid touching the outer surface.

• Consider avoiding kissing or exchanging spit.

• Wear a mask for extra caution. Although direct contact is the most common way for hMPXV to spread, the virus may be able to spread from close respiratory contact. Wearing a mask is protective against this, as well as against other viruses.

September 2022 Creature Feature - Lilith!

The pet play lifestyle is full of so many voices that make it unique and vibrant. To showcase this, every month we will be shining the spotlight on a particular human animal or Handler in our community. Let's hear what makes every pet player special!

This month, we're getting the claws out! Well... talking to a clawed critter, anyway. This feline (and skunk!) brings fierce light to our moshes, and we loved getting to know her better. Introducing...

LILITH!

Please introduce yourself, your pronouns, and how you identify in pet play.

Hello! I’m Lilith and my pronouns are she/her. In pet play, I identify as a feline - sometimes I'm primal and sometimes I’m domestic. My pet play headspaces include a regal tigress, a lil chonk-fluff black house kitten, and I’ve been recently exploring a little skunk space. I’m an all-around bottom and a masochist with sadistic tendencies.

How did you first get into pet play and discover your headspaces?

I was introduced to pet play about 10 or so years ago by my friend at the time. I didn’t get into it myself until I started studying tiger behavior and realizing that I could identify as a “non traditional” pet play animal. I’ve always felt a bit like a feline, but after studying and watching tigers, I began to play with tigress space and it just felt right!

My tigress space is much more observant and less playful with others, so it just felt natural to have a domestic kitten space that is more engaged with others.

How do you feel your kitten and tigress headspaces differ? Are there any similarities?

My tigress space is, well, much like a tiger! Tigers are solitary animals who observe the world around them with a keen eye. While I do sometimes play in tigress space, it’s more often alone or a lower energy play. With my kitten space, I feel more energetic and playful around others.

Simply put - tigress will stalk the pups, kitten will play with the pups. They’re both very similar when it comes to feline tendencies. I will sleep anywhere, I’ll tear everything up with my claws, and bite to show affection. In addition to, you know, typical cat things!

What helps you get into your pet headspaces?

Being around other pet players is a huge help when getting into headspace. An instant way into kitten space is when my Daddy calls me by my kitten names and pets me like the kitty I am. Sometimes putting on my gear can help, or simply getting out my favorite cat/tigress toys and playing with them. Oftentimes for me it’s like flipping a switch - I turn off my human brain and my feline brain will take over.

What are your favorite treats/rewards?

I love so many treats! Goldfish are a common go-to for me. I also love my pet play bowl filled with milk. Being hand fed sashimi or sushi is a great kitten and tigress treat. And thanks to [our Co-Founder] Vixen’s brilliant advice, a new favorite has become rice, avocado, and tuna balls.

How, if at all, do your intersections of identity influence your pet play?

In terms of kink identities, my masochistic and sub side influence my pet play spaces quite a bit. I identify as a little and a submissive, and my kitten headspace is very much little and very much a submissive cat (I still do what I want like knocking Daddy’s cups over…).

I’m less masochistic in kitten space than I am tigress space. My tigress space is primal, and being hurt as a chained up [human] tigress is very much enjoyable to me and can amplify my primal tendencies.

What do you love most about pet play?

Play! It’s far too common in our society for people to get stuck in “adulting” mode. Pet play helps me turn off the narrative in my head and live in the moment. I find it very soothing and an amazing release when life gets hard. Being able to engage and play with others like me without the use of words can be so deeply cathartic.

SoCal Creatures has created this amazing, inclusive, non-judgmental space that I haven’t experienced anywhere else that makes this type of play possible for me. I’m so grateful for the founders and our community! So very long answer short - play and the SoCal Creatures community.

To keep up with this ferocious feline, follow her on Instagram @tigresskittenlilith.

August 2022 Creature Feature - Lorde Jayne!

The pet play lifestyle is full of so many voices that make it unique and vibrant. To showcase this, every month we will be shining the spotlight on a particular human animal or Handler in our community. Let's hear what makes every pet player special! We love talking to Handlers as well as pets. This month, we chatted with an especially fascinating Handler who loves to bring hypnosis into their play. He taught at our first-ever Pet School event, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them better! Introducing...

LORDE JAYNE

Please introduce yourself and how you identify in pet play.

Hi! I'm Lorde, Professional Bully and HypnoGod. My pronouns are he/they. I am a sadistic, chaotic, domestic animal handler and high-protocol horse trainer. My topspace when playing with pets is handler/jockey but if I'm feeling really freaky I might become an erotic yokai or incubus.

How did you first get into pet play?

I love this answer because it's exactly what Zuck doesn't want: INSTAGRAM. I can't remember when, but a reel of Wiley Wolfe petting a cat, saying NO/YES to a background track of things that should/shouldn't happen in BDSM was my first exposure to SoCal Creatures. I was like, "This seems like a person I want to know," because I liked their Domme style. It wasn't really about pets. Then I went to a mosh and almost left because I had no idea what to do with pups. Luckily, a pet named Erin Piglet turned things around for me. They really made me feel at home in this new space and I can safely say they're the reason why I'm here doing pet play. Like a lot of performers, I have a big sparkly stage personality but I'm also painfully introverted. I feel like Erin Piglet got that immediately and used their piglet persona to break the ice. I realized that pet play could be very touch-centered and instantly fell in love with that.

How would you describe your Handler style?

Rough and dirty handling brings me the utmost glee. I enjoy applying edgeplay to my pet play and am primarily into dark pet play. I enjoy *mistreating* my creatures by playing the role of a sadistic handler or demeaning ringmaster. I like being a bad owner. Maybe I run a shitty zoo or organize dog fights...stuff like that (I love animals and can't even watch Tiger King, don't judge my kinks!) I'm into emotional sadism, mindfuck and physical degradation of all kinds! I wanna push your nose in something. I'm all bite and no bark, though. I don't like raising my voice. I used to be a teacher and am currently a parent, so I'm kinda burnt out on OBEDIENCE. The exception for high protocol handling would be with ponies. Where my ponies at!? I was in 4H as a kid and grew up around farm animals. I love controlling large animals--horses, cattle, etc. because you have to use your mind. Ever heard the phrase "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink?" Not true! You can't even lead a horse to water if they don't trust you. That horse will fuck you up. So, it's such a huge sense of accomplishment to have prey animals trust me. I wanted to be a jockey when I was a kid but then I found out you have to be a cis guy for that and also that horse races are cruel, so I gave up on that dream. As an adult there's a deep desire for my very own My Little Pony to compensate for that. I wanna tack my pony up in the best gear, solder cutie marks on their butt, then jockey them in a race. I'm a poly handler, so you will most likely see me *own* a zoo or herd, rather than a single pup or kitten.

What do you most value in a pet?

As a Handler and Domme I really value pets who have a firm grasp of their desires and boundaries. A red flag for me is "anything goes." I like when my pets are transparent about their neurodivergence or other specific needs. A pet focusing solely on my desires makes me uneasy. Ultimately, a pet who knows what does and doesn't make them feel safe makes ME feel safe. Win-win.

What are your favorite ways to merge hypnokink and pet play?

I love this question! I like putting subs into their pet spaces through hypnosis right off the bat because it's like changing the radio station quickly rather than waiting for a song to be over. "Now you're a fox!" *snaps* done. That way, we have more time and energy for the actual pet play without figuring out how to *get there*.

Hypnokink is good for people who are shy or insecure about inhabiting their petspace. I like helping pets really deep into their headspaces so they feel free to embody that creature to the fullest; full embodiment really turns me on!

Something that also entertains me is doing sex play with pets. Maybe this pup is going to lick peanut butter off me for 30 minutes without stopping or maybe I turn this kitty into a tribbing machine. I like using hypnokink to (consensually) turn my pets into mindless pleasure servants for my own gain by planting (agreed upon) suggestions straight into their subconscious mind.

What advice would you have for pet players who want to try out hypnokink for the first time?

First, I would say notice when you are under hypnosis in your real life. There are times throughout the day when we lose track of time/are in the flow state, such as watching TV, driving, painting, masturbating, etc. That's hypnosis. Pay attention to the body sensations that come up when you're naturally hypnotized (hyper-focus/blissed out/tunnel vision) and try to replicate those in play. You can do this by creating a hypnotic suggestion for yourself and then hypnotizing yourself using my self-hypnosis script.

I suggest adding hypnokink to kinks you're already familiar with and like. For example, if you like being a *dumb* pup, giving your brain a break, you can go deeper into that bimbo/himbo/thembo persona through hypnosis.

I wouldn't merge hypnokink with a kink you are unsure about/inexperienced with. For example, you've never done knife play and now you're gonna bottom for a knife top while under hypnosis. Maybe don't?

Lastly, do not use hypnokink under the influence of drugs or alcohol. I know hypnokink and poppers seem to go hand-in-hand but I highly advice against it because 1) it lessens the impact of hypnotic suggestions when your mind is foggy, i.e. doesn't work and 2) consent cannot be freely given, nor is informed when we're under the influence and that's a no-no in all BDSM play.

What do you love most about pet play?

It's fun! I am a big joker and although I can be a serious Domme in role-play, I am not a serious person. Pet play brings levity and fun to BDSM that other types of play just don't. Awards for peeing on the rug? I'm into that! Real life can be so heavy sometimes; pet play feels like an escape. It seems to attract whimsical people and queer people and I'm into both of those.

It's also accessible and feels less cost-prohibitive than other kinks. I've seen pups who wear only dog collars and no other gear and it works. It's cool that we can buy *pet play* gear in any sleepy suburban town with a Petco. You don't have to go to the Stockroom and drop $300 to be part of this scene.

Overall, pet play feels inclusive, fun and progressive. I see a lot of Black and brown people at these events, which is important because BDSM is (incorrectly) portrayed as a white people's game. Gender doesn't seem to be at the forefront like it does in so many other scenes, too. I know a lot of trans and gender fluid people are in the pet community, which is important to me as a trans dude who's still figuring out how to exist in a heavily gendered adult industry. The pet community feels like DIY punks, mixed with drama kids, mixed with abolitionists. I feel at home here.

To keep up with Lorde Jayne, follow him on Instagram @lordejayne