Furries to the rescue: Anthrocon raises $89,000 for McDonald cat shelter
The furries of Anthrocon came through in a big way for Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue last weekend.
Anthrocon attendees raised more than $89,000 for the McDonald-based cat shelter, according to Sandi Eaton, its director.
Nose 2 Tail was the official charity for the event this year, which has been hosted at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh since 2006.
Many of the 鈥渇urries鈥� who come to celebrate wear their own 鈥渇ursuits鈥� depicting their own original anthropomorphic creatures.
鈥淚t was so much fun,鈥� Eaton said. 鈥淲e had people just handing us money all weekend. Our volunteers definitely were blown away by the generosity and kindness of everyone who came along. We met people from all over the world. It was a blur.鈥�
Nose 2 Tail, the first cat-exclusive charity hosted by Anthrocon, had a table at the event where they collected donations and sold merchandise, such as T-shirts and plushies.
Eaton said they also brought along two 7-week-old kittens that have special needs. People could spend $10 to cuddle with Spike or Littlefoot, named for characters from the 1988 film, 鈥淭he Land Before Time.鈥�
During an auction on the final day of Anthrocon, they auctioned off 鈥渒itten cuddles鈥� with Spike and Littlefoot, which ended up raising $675.
Nose 2 Tail also raised money with the 鈥渂ucket brigade,鈥� where a volunteer partnered with a furry and carried a bucket around the convention for donations.
Eaton said she made sure to partner with Paco the Panda, who carried around giant crayons to draw other attendees鈥� 鈥渇ursonas.鈥�
鈥淭he giant panda was their favorite animal growing up in Mexico 鈥� I connected with that because my favorite animal growing up was a panda,鈥� Eaton said.
With more than $89,000 from Anthrocon, Eaton now has to decide how to best use the funds.
She said finding a bigger space is 鈥渢he ultimate dream.鈥�
鈥淭his kind of gives a foundation to dream a little bigger, and maybe move forward that way. Obviously, it keeps us afloat for a while,鈥� Eaton said.
She admitted it鈥檚 鈥渁 little scary鈥� and overwhelming to have so much cash on hand.
鈥淲hen I applied, I never thought we would get chosen. The fact that we did was still unbelievable,鈥� Eaton said.
Nose 2 Tail is still accepting donations online via givebutter.com in hopes of reaching their $100,000 goal.
Eaton had never attended Anthrocon before, and she 鈥渁dmired them from afar for so long.鈥�
After getting to spend the weekend as the guest of honor, her positive feelings toward furries has been solidified.
鈥淚 felt just as a person, that I could just be myself and be accepted. I know that鈥檚 how a lot of attendees feel,鈥� Eaton said. 鈥淚 felt safe. Everyone was just so kind, and I didn鈥檛 feel like there was any ill will by anyone.鈥�
Eaton also extended credit to her team of volunteers who helped throughout the weekend.
鈥淚 would not have been able to do this without the Nose 2 Tail volunteers, and them taking the time to do everything. That鈥檚 everyday, I would never be able to do this by myself. I appreciate everyone, from the volunteers, to the fosters, to the people that consistently donate, to the adopters. It takes a village to do this,鈥� Eaton said.