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 very talented East Coast lupine - kitsune, wolfdog, lynx, and an incredible artist with their own pet play-centric store! Introducing...
MONO!
Please introduce yourself and how you identify in pet play.
Woof! Name's Mono. My pronouns are they/them/he. My pet spaces cover that of a kitsune (a fox yokai found in Japanese lore), and a wolf-dog mix with characteristics based around the german shepherd dog. Occasionally I explore playing around as a lynx!
What is your local pet play scene like in your experience? Are there any events you would recommend?
I'm fairly new to my local scene, so I dare not speak heavily on it, but I had the pleasure of visiting Folsom East a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed it. I intend to make closer connections to the local pups and kinksters I have interacted with in the near future as best as the times allow.
How did you discover your pet identity, and what does it mean to you?
I've always had an affinity for canines, werewolves, and their behavior. I used to get in trouble for howling at the moon as a kid and running up the stairs on all fours. Foxes came in to play later. I find them very clever and charming. My pet identities are the pathway to freedom from societal norms, and an intimate form of self expression.
What are your favorite activities as a pet?
Occasionally I enjoy playing with a toy or two, but I really love acts of service! Retrieving and protecting things, cleaning and cooking. Right now walkies probably take the cake along with obedience training. This dog will walk very far, for very long.
How, if at all, do your intersections of identity influence your pet play?
Being socially anxious, partly demisexual, a person of color, and non-binary with trans-masc leanings heavily affects the spaces I go into and sometimes how I play with others. Nerves combined with not being comfortable exploring certain play events has often limited my participation in the community (I can name two events I missed out on during the last week of June alone); however, these things have also led me to a kink family that supports me, broadens my horizons and makes me more keen on stepping out of my comfort zone.
My personality also heavily influences my pet space behavior. None of my headspaces are young animals, because I don't have the playful, energetic personality to match. However I do love seeing others have a good time/romp, and occasionally feel inclined to do the same.
What inspired you to start your art shop?
I started my art shop with the intention of creating the things I couldn't find for myself, and the hope that someone else would be happy to find it if they searched for it too. I think the petplay and kink niche has a lot more room for artistic expression, and I hope I somehow fill that gap for all kinds of people, alongside the other creators I follow and love. I am also very inspired by the animated media I consume and use my shop to make something tangible of that inspiration.
In the near future, how do you most hope to see the pet play community grow as a whole?
I'm already seeing people exploring more animals and I love that! I want to see minks and birds and dragons and have them be just as much appreciated. I hope the community continues to be increasingly accepting and more accessible for those with disabilities that want to take part, and I hope BIPOC have more spaces to thrive and hold events where they can feel comfortable and genuinely included.
What do you love most about pet play?
The freedom from obligation! Scratches behind my ears! That I can become an animal that is not myself, yet so inherently, earnestly, me at the same time, and that complete strangers have welcomed me for doing so without question.
To keep up with this artistic lupine, follow them on Instagram at @moonstruckpup, and check out their shop, too! IG @kemonomikashop, Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MonoPaws
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