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

July 2022 Creature Feature - Puppie!

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 loved getting to know a wonderful pup and little in our community with a beautiful story to tell. They are also the talented artist and ear-maker behind Socks Sundries! Introducing...

PUPPIE!

Please introduce yourself and how you identify in pet play.

Hi, I’m Puppie! Besides that, I’m a black, agender, and queer. I am neurodivergent, and polyamorous. Most of you may know me as Sock, but that’s only one of my multiple pet headspaces. In my headspace as Sock, I’m a playful white pitbull pup. While I’m Void, I am a hellhound which resembles a jackal (think Anubis). Rose is my Handler and Domme. For her, I do Service tasks and act as a familiar. A headspace that interests me but I have less experience in is being a circus poodle.

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

Did you ever play “House” when you were younger? There’s generally assigned roles for people like mom, dad, daughter, son… you get the idea. Those roles were not easy for me to identify with. I’ve always struggled with understanding my gender. Being able to fit in was not an easy feat. Discovering I could be the pet dog was revolutionary! It gave me time to not worry about gender at all. In that pretend play, I would be put on a leash and sometimes I would even “live” in a cardboard box as a cage.

For a long while after that, I felt I had to repress the desire to be a pup, because, at the time, I felt it was inappropriate to play pretend as I grew up. Societal norms really did a number on me. The things I loved were pushed aside just to fit into the “box” I was assigned. After a long while of suffering trying to conform to that theoretical box, I needed to emerge. Ripping the cardboard walls of that restriction released my freedom of expression. It was then that I ran into the arms of individuality.

What are your favorite activities as a pet?

I usually am deeper in my pup headspace around my Mommy and during moshes. With my Mommy, we cuddle and participate in more sexual type play. When I’m at moshes, I love to wrestle with other pups and consenting pets. Chewing and ripping toys is also a pastime I enjoy. At the first SoCal Creatures mosh I went to, I chewed up my hippo squeaky toy. RIP! Speaking of chewing, yummy treatos such as Scooby snacks, cereal and occasional bio dog food causes me to fall deeper into my pet headspace, especially if I’m being trained. I am also a good service pup. I love to do tasks for my Mommy such as cleaning, sexual service, and emotional support.

What helps you get into your pet headspace?

Wearing my pup gear usually helps me feel more focused on being a pet instead of being distracted by my “human form”. Seeing my body during pet play can really rip me from my headspace. Some of the things I use to distract me from that are faux fur ears, a wagging rubber tail, a leather muzzle, my pink collar, a body harness, and sometimes even a leash. Both my collar and one of my harnesses are made for bio dogs, actually! The jingle of my collar as I move is a constant reminder of my place as a pet. It stays around my neck almost always and certainly adds to my head space. Recently I got a hood and just as I suspected it also helped me feel less human.

Besides gear, other things that help are getting head scritches and belly rubs. I also like when my handler enforces things like speaking restrictions and being forced to walk on all fours. I enjoy training–preferably in a language other than English. And in my poodle headspace, I hope to get training from a clown to be a circus pup!

How, if at all, does being a little intersect with being a pet for you?

Sometimes I’m in both spaces at once! Both kinds of play really speak to my desire to take a break from being an adult human with necessary responsibilities and social constructs. It’s good to feel like things can just be simple sometimes.

What do you love most about pet play?

Pet play is very therapeutic for me–it aids in processing and managing a variety of difficult emotions. Nicknames like “dumb pup” and “silly baby” give me a break from being expected work my brain at full force all the time. It can also be a meditative practice for me since it requires letting thoughts come and go. I feel at ease as a pet. I feel like I can finally live peacefully.

To keep up with this playful pup, follow them at @precious.puppie