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 无毛视频渇urries无毛视频� who come to celebrate wear their own 无毛视频渇ursuits无毛视频� depicting their own original anthropomorphic creatures.
无毛视频淚t was so much fun,无毛视频� Eaton said. 无毛视频淲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.无毛视频�
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, 无毛视频淭he Land Before Time.无毛视频�
During an auction on the final day of Anthrocon, they auctioned off 无毛视频渒itten cuddles无毛视频� with Spike and Littlefoot, which ended up raising $675.
Nose 2 Tail also raised money with the 无毛视频渂ucket brigade,无毛视频� 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无毛视频� 无毛视频渇ursonas.无毛视频�
无毛视频淭he giant panda was their favorite animal growing up in Mexico 无毛视频� I connected with that because my favorite animal growing up was a panda,无毛视频� 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 无毛视频渢he ultimate dream.无毛视频�
无毛视频淭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,无毛视频� Eaton said.
She admitted it无毛视频檚 无毛视频渁 little scary无毛视频� and overwhelming to have so much cash on hand.
无毛视频淲hen I applied, I never thought we would get chosen. The fact that we did was still unbelievable,无毛视频� 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 无毛视频渁dmired them from afar for so long.无毛视频�
After getting to spend the weekend as the guest of honor, her positive feelings toward furries has been solidified.
无毛视频淚 felt just as a person, that I could just be myself and be accepted. I know that无毛视频檚 how a lot of attendees feel,无毛视频� Eaton said. 无毛视频淚 felt safe. Everyone was just so kind, and I didn无毛视频檛 feel like there was any ill will by anyone.无毛视频�
Eaton also extended credit to her team of volunteers who helped throughout the weekend.
无毛视频淚 would not have been able to do this without the Nose 2 Tail volunteers, and them taking the time to do everything. That无毛视频檚 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,无毛视频� Eaton said.