October 2021 Creature Feature - Panthy!

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're ringing in October with one of our favorite archetypes of the spooky season... black cats! Well, in this case, a Bi Domina Black Panther and pet play artist with powerful views to share. Introducing...

PANTHY!

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

Hi, everyone! The name's Panthy. My pronouns are She/They. I identify as a Large cat in the Pet play community. To be specific, a Black Panther - hence my name. I am a Bi Domina who loves interacting and meeting members of diverse community.

What is your local pet play scene like in your experience? Are there any events you would recommend?

From what I have experienced from my chosen pet play family and the other experiences I have had is nothing but acceptance. From experiencing pet play meet ups and panels at conventions, there’s a lot that can be learned and a lot of good people to learn from. I haven’t been to many events, but when the world becomes safer, I’d love to travel to different states to experience events and meet kinksters in different parts [of the country.]

How did you discover your pet identity, and what does it mean to you?

I have always had a thing for anything feline. Growing up, my childhood nickname was "Alleycat," so cats hold a special place in my heart. I can describe my personality as cat-like at times.

What is it like for you to be a Dominant Animal?

For me, being a Dominant Animal is not the act of dominating over the other, but more of a independence/leadership situation. I love giving direction and helping others achieve their goals. I will say it is instinctual for me to want to take charge.

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

I would definitely say the caring and nurturing sides of me influence my pet play. To be a Domina means so many things to me as far as being a natural born leader and independent solo cat. When I’m in packs, I tend to want to protect and guard my kin. I can be very territorial and that stems from me being very protective of those I care about.

What inspired you to start creating animal play art?

What inspired me to start creating pet play art was the lack of representation art-wise. I started Wearepetplay to give kinksters another go-to artist who can create cute art pieces that represent what they are about. Check out WeArePetPlay on Instagram!

In the near future, how do you most hope to see the pet play community grow as a whole?

I feel the pet play community has been growing slowly but surely since I become a member. Every day, I’m seeing more and more beautiful people emerging - coming out and living in their truth. I hope to see more kinksters join the community and those who have been here continue to lend a helping hand as we’ll continue to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone.

What do you love most about pet play?

What I love the most about pet play is I can be myself without any judgement. I can be anything and everything I want. If I want to be cat today, ok! If I feel like fox tomorrow, that’s ok too. I love that is a way I can express myself and feel completely free as I experience different headspaces and meet so many good peeps.

Keep up with this fabulous feline on Instagram! @pantherpanthy

September 2021 Creature Feature - Pup Garnet!

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 are thrilled to feature the FIRST EVER Animal International titleholder! This pup is already a community leader and trailblazer, with a voice and perspective that deserves to be heard far and wide. Introducing...

PUP GARNET!

Please introduce yourself and how you identify in pet play.

Awoooooo! Hello friends, my name is Garnet and I use he/him pronouns! I am so honored to be in this month’s creature feature! I am an energetic, friendly, and sometimes sassy golden retriever based in Southern California. Throughout my time in the community, I have been known as a pup/Handler, little, pain slut, educator, event planner, and I am newly the title holder of the first all-animal title, Animal International.

Identity is something that I value strongly and center a lot of my events around. My mission in the community work that I do is to help provide spaces for unique and diverse individuals to play, socialize, and to feel seen and heard.

As far as what animal Garnet is? Garnet is a Golden Retriever in that awkward lanky stage between puphood (hehe no pun intended) and doghood, who looks like any other happy-go-lucky family dog on the outside... but on the inside, and with his play, it’s all around the idea of pushing the boundaries of the image the "family dog." It also helps that he’s just a silly air-headed puppy who gets into some deliciously unfortunate situations (aka scenes with his playmates).

How did you discover your identity as a pup, and your breed?

As a little kid, I loved playing dog. It was my happy place, and a place where I felt like myself. I am on the autism spectrum. It is common for those who have ASD to often feel a disconnect from human social interactions. Animals, especially dogs, made sense to me and made me feel safe and calm, unlike anything else ever has. I have always felt more connected to dogs and other animals than I have with humans. I feel as if I have always had K9 energy in my heart and soul.

As I grew up, the connection never changed. When I found pet play, I was instantly interested and fell in love when I went to my first event as a puppy. As I continued my play my personality began to shift - I became more open, excited, and happy. Garnet, the golden retriever, started to shine through. He is the embodiment of joy and freedom in my life and radiates that when he plays. Seeing and getting to know this energy instantly declared him as a golden for sure.

What are your favorite activities in pet play?

My favorite activities in pet play happen at moshes. I love to play with the other pets, and especially to chase the cats (watch out, kitties!). When I am not chasing cats, wrestling other puppies is an activity that I enjoy a lot. Wrestling really taps me into my headspace because it reminds me of the way that bio dogs play. At a mosh with other pets, at some point during the mosh, I will start a good ol' fashioned howl circle. My howl is distinct, for sure. It is often described as the sound a fork in a blender would make. It certainly gets attention.

How, if at all, does your identity as a little/ABDL interact with your pet play?

Casually, my pet play and little headspaces interact a lot. The best way I have found to describe it is if a little kid was acting like a puppy. The energies mix so naturally and I find myself in the little head space and doing things like tail wags, awoos, barking noises, and requesting pets.

How did you find your pack, and what does it mean to you?

My pack, the Desert Hounds, is made up of animals that I was friends with in the Las Vegas community whom I met all individually. Eventually, all four of us started attending the same weekly education group and munches. I introduced everyone and we all became close! Out of those in our kink groups, we were the pet players. We wanted to look after each other and be one another’s family in the pet play community. There is no power exchange dynamic within our pack as a whole. The pack is all made up of independent Alpha types who band together and care for one another. I am very grateful for the Desert Hounds. We have each other’s backs, support, and uplift one another. Those sorts of connections mean so much to me.

What advice do you have for other trans pet players looking to start exploring?

My advice to other trans pet players looking to explore is to be sure to go at your own pace. Take time to reflect on and understand what you are comfortable with in your pet play and where there are spaces/events that align with you. It’s always a good tip to go with a friend your first few times, and if it happens to be someone already in the community, think of asking them to help introduce you to others. If you’re not sure if you have a friend to go with, think of messaging event organizers about it being your first time and talking with them to get a tour/introduction to the event when you arrive. Your identities are valid and you are valid, never forget that. If you need more support I’d recommend looking into some community discords, like the one SCC runs! Join our Discord server here: https://discord.gg/UhBduYHaGA

What do you love most about pet play?

Honestly, I just love being a dog! I love making others feel the way dogs make me feel! I love being that cute little goldie with big eyes shaking his tail for others to pet, and love how others get to be that excited person giving me lots of pets and treats as a good dog! Woof woof!

Keep up with Garnet by following him on Instagram at @garnetpup.

Animal Pride Flag Reveal!

There are puppy, kitten, bear, and pony pride flags.. but now, we are thrilled to announce the ANIMAL PRIDE FLAG!

This flag represents all human animal role players of all animal species, intersections, and play styles.

Thanks to Madame Margherite, DomCon LA, and the Animal International title for providing the platform and resources to create this flag. Thanks to Mistress Wiley Wolfe for the design rendering, and to everyone who gave their input.

Though created to be associated with the Animal International title, this flag is for the animal role play community at large. As such, the flag is free for public use. You may print yourself a flag, put it on a shirt, turn it into a button, use its colors in your art, etc. Our only ask is for you to credit it as or tell people that it is the Animal Pride Flag, so word gets out!

Download the Flag

Click link above to access a Google Drive folder and download high-quality image files of the Animal Pride Flag.

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FLAG MEANING

🌏 Blue, green, and brown to represent the Earth and all its creatures. The intention here is to highlight our connection to Mother Earth as living beings, the importance of caring for our natural home as well as ourselves, and to speak to the international reach of animal role play as a whole. Our animal role play community spans the globe! We also hope this speaks to the connection between us, as human kinksters, with the biological animals we draw inspiration from in our play. It is a reminder to not only care for our fellow kinky community, but to extend that care towards the preservation and care of the animal kingdom as well.

🐾 Paw prints to show how human animals of all species come together through our mutual connection in pet play.

Animal role play isn't just for pups, kittens, and ponies. We are an intricate fabric of identities, and this includes embracing individuals who identify as a tapestry of different animals during their play. We hope that the different animal tracks from this flag take a step towards representing that diversity, and encourage others to explore different animal headspaces that appeal to them. The paw prints, clockwise starting at 12:00, are - equine, moose/bovine, red panda, muskrat/racoon, bird, domestic dog, wild canine, kit fox, frog, feline, bear, and pig/porcine.

❤ A red heart to represent the united love with which we play and support each other. Animal role play includes all people who find joy and love in it. This includes not only white cis gay men, as is often traditionally seen, but also women; transgender people; non-binary people, as well as individuals all along the gender spectrum; Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color; people of all sexualities, including those who play and live on the asexual spectrum; disabled and chronically ill individuals; as well as all other intersections of identity.

A united animal role play community is one that supports, honors, includes, and empowers individuals of all intersections. It embraces those who come to share in the love of animal role play, and makes active, intentional space for all individuals to feel welcome.

🖤 Black to represent the BDSM/kink that connects us all. We are, after all, kinksters at heart. This flag acknowledges that BDSM is the crucial ingredient defining animal role play as something different than being a furry, therian, otherkin, or anything else that is not based in kink - even though there are community overlaps.

This color also acknowledges the history of leather in animal role play, particularly in regards to puppy play. Though there are many influences that have come together to make animal role play what it is today, we honor our connection to leather history and the influence it has on our current play.

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COLOR GUIDE

BLUE HEX: 2881C3 RGB: R 40 G 129 B 195 CMYK: C 80% M 42% Y 1% K 0%

GREEN HEX: 4EA346 RGB: R 78 G 163 B 70 CMYK: C 73% M 12% Y 100% K 1%

BROWN HEX: 825B37 RGB: R 130 G 91 B 15 CMYK: C 39% M 59% Y 83% K 27%

RED HEX: ED2127 RGB: R 237 G 33 B 39 CMYK: C 1% M 98% Y 95% K 0%

BLACK HEX: 000000 RGB: R 0 G 0 B 0 CMYK: C 75% M 68% Y 67% K 90%

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We look forward to flying this flag at our moshes, and seeing it displayed as the flag for Animal International for years to come.

We are proud to call this flag a commitment by SoCal Creatures to improving and celebrating the animal play community.

🎉 Finally, a mighty CONGRATULATIONS to Pup Garnet for being the First Animal International Titleholder! 🎉

We are so elated to have Garnet carry and represent our flag and this title. Well deserved, and well chosen by the amazing title competition judges - Mx Mina De Sade-Fatale, LA Pup 2020-21 Pup Star Orion, and Boy Razz. We are excited to witness the future of this title and of this flag.

The first Animal International Title competition photo, 2021