Fur and Loathing in Chicago

Originally “Furry Fun at the FurFest”

By C. Elliot Ritter

 

Three Japanese flight attendants laugh as a six-and-a-half-foot tall fox and kangaroo walks out of the elevator and into the hall past them.  Two people wearing animal tails greet each other with a “yiff” and a hug.  In a ballroom off the hallway there is a discussion on the nature of wolves.

Every year an unconventional convention meets at the Hyatt Regency in Schaumberg, Ill. and for three days Furries from all over the country can meet and mingle at the Midwest FurFest.

In general, members of the Furry fandom, as they are often called, are fans of anthropomorphized animals; fictional animals given human-like form and personalities.  This gross generalization is open to much debate because there are many facets to the Furry fandom.

At the Midwest FurFest there were seminars on Furry spirituality, which are varying beliefs typically involving animal spirit guides and totem animals similar to American Indian mythology.  Often this is simply a belief kept to themselves and rarely expressed to other people.  Some spiritualists believe in a “Furry lifestyle” where their beliefs become stronger element of their lives.  Robert Parish, head of the Furry Spirit track, was quick to differentiate “spiritualists” from “lifestylers” because he says many of them do not have a spiritual connection.  Some Furries have gone to the extent as to take on an animal-like behaviors and appearance such as body art.

Another common element to the convention was the sight of fursuits, costumes similar to sports mascots or Disneyworld actors that have an animal appearance.  Some are Furry spiritualists, but many do it for fun.  “It’s the theme of the con,” Shade, a fursuit wearer in a black cat costume, “kind of like people dressing up like storm troopers at a sci-fi con.”

Many of the discussions at the convention involved the behaviors and treatment of wild and domestic animals.  The presentations included speeches from Tiger Touch a wild cat sanctuary in Fallon, Nev. as well as presentations on wolves and foxes from Wolf Park, a wild dog research facility in Battleground, Ind.  Focus on Furry Friends, a no-kill animal shelter in Chicago, Ill. also gave a presentation on the Pit Bull Terrier, a breed that Chicago is considering banning.  The convention had a charity auction and arty sale that raised $8,959 for the Focus on Furry Friend.

Besides seminars and presentations, there was also a chance for artists to sell their talents.  The Artist Den was a chance for people to have commissions drawn of their favorite Furry characters or their own creations.  There was also a chance for dealers to sell their wares.  The items for sale ranged from Furry and animal themed art prints to plush ears and tails.

In all the three day convention was more of a gathering of like minds than of any of the presentation and sellers.  Furries tend to be private and the chance to let their hair, or fur, down was welcome to many of the participants.