LAYTON, Utah (ABC4) Over the years, furries—a group of people recognized for their animal costumes—have faced shame and conflict, particularly in Utah. However, no one performs charitable work quite like them.
This year, Anthro Weekend Utah (AWU), a furry convention held annually in Layton, earned $36,830 for Nuzzles & Co., an animal rescue organization situated in Park City. Just over 2,600 people attended the event. AWU has been supporting Nuzzles & Co. for two years; last year, they also raised about $36,000.
The majority of furry conventions choose an animal-based charity to support, much like AWU. Over $87,000 was raised for the Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue in Pennsylvania this year by Pittsburgh’s Anthrocon, the biggest furry event. More than 18,300 people attended Anthrocon.
AWU began in 2017 and is held at the Davis Conference Center each summer. The conference was in its seventh year; AWU was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 and other issues.
The charity pet rescue and adoption organization Nuzzles & Co. is situated in Park City, Utah. Over 27,000 animals have been saved throughout their more than 35 years of providing pet services to the community, according to their website. They strive to alleviate animal homelessness in Utah and provide on-site veterinarian care.
Leslie Barcus, executive director of Nuzzles & Co., told ABC4 that the organization is “overwhelmed by the generous support provided to us by the anthro community for two consecutive years, exceeding $36,000 each in 2024 and 2025.”
Prior to assisting Nuzzles & Co., AWU’s charity was Wild Wonders, which shut down in 2024, according to Ven Ferlin, chair of the AWU convention, who spoke to ABC4. As the charity closed, AWU was able to use the money it had raised in 2023 to assist in finding new homes for all of the animals at Wild Wonders. After that, AWU searched for a new charity that focused on animals to help and eventually found Nuzzles & Co.
The Purple Paw Program, which assists victims of domestic abuse in finding homes for their pets during times of transition, was one of the things that drew us to them, Ferlin said. They were so nice and encouraging that we believed they were the ideal individuals to help, and we thought it was very amazing.
A casino night is one of the ways AWU earns money for its preferred charity. Furries get together to play Texas Hold em, blackjack, craps, and roulette in collaboration with Common Cents. Real money gambling is illegal in Utah, but Common Cents makes sure that everything is done ethically and that all of the money goes to the charity, so it’s a fun and legal way to bet.
Another fundraising event, the AWU charity auction, brought in slightly under $23,000 this year. Large decorations and theming pieces with AWU’s original mascots that were acquired for the convention are the most popular products, according to Ferlin. In addition to such items, everything from posters and limited edition prints to costume parts and Ferlin’s clothing is up for auction in an effort to raise as much money as possible for Nuzzles & Co.
Ferlin said, “We have a really fun auctioneer, and he tends to get a little carried away.” We received hundreds of dollars for the clothing I was already wearing, and he will auction it off my back.
According to Ferlin, the auctioneer even put his shoes up for auction one year. In case something goes wrong, he has learned to maintain an extra change of clothes backstage. He ensures that we raise as much money as possible for the organization. The United Utah Furry Fandom, a local furry organization, even contributed just under $900 to Nuzzles & Co. Twisted Tails, a touring escape room at the event, raised an additional $1,100.
AWU gave Nuzzles & Co. a donation of over $36,000.00 last year. They revealed in an Instagram post that the money will cover the pet rescue’s medical expenses and prescription drugs for six months. This year, Nuzzles & Co.’s operations will be supported once more by a substantial donation.
This kind of funding makes it possible for Nuzzles to rescue about 60 animals annually, including some that are in highly precarious situations, such as being homeless or in danger of being put to death in kill shelters, according to Barcus. Our ongoing care of these animals, including their feeding, medical attention, and eventual adoption preparation, is also made possible by this financing.
According to Ferlin, the year was incredibly successful, and they are thrilled to be supporting a worthy cause like Nuzzles & Co. Except for a minimal per diem that covers costs during the conference itself, every member of the convention team works completely without compensation. This guarantees that they donate as much as they can to the charity.
Nuzzles is grateful for the anthro group’s interest in our mission to end animal homelessness and has had a very pleasant and positive experience with them. Barcus said, “We thank [ABC4 News] for the opportunity to thank the anthro community publicly. They bring great energy and concern to the partnership with Nuzzles.”
The significant donation has made us very thrilled. The year was incredibly successful. “We had a great time,” Ferlin said.
What is a furry?
Furries are persons who like to dress up as and portray characters that resemble anthropomorphic animals, according to the United Utah Furry Fandom (U2F2), an organization that unites the furry community in Utah. They liken the fascination with anthropomorphic animals to that of Judy Hopps or Robin Hood from Disney.
In addition to organizing or attending furry-related events, the fandom frequently supports local businesses, takes part in charitable or community events, and is always eager to make our fellow members and the public’s day better, according to U2F2.
Furries have long been stigmatized; in one instance, junior high school students in Utah organized a walkout to express their disapproval. According to U2F2, false presumptions about the fans are the source of this reputation. They all agree that furries are strange, but they don’t think they are actual animals or deviants like those on TV.
