Have you ever been to a sporting event where the teams have a mascot who stands on the sidelines, entertains the crowd, and acts silly for our entertainment? Well, chances are the person behind the mask is a furry, or someone who is a member of the furry fandom. What is a furry? Furry is one of those words without a definition. If you ask ten people you will get twelve different answers. Levi Wolfstrom, co-host of the Wagztail webcast, defines him as someone who enjoys stories, art, or other media that feature animals with human characteristics (Levi Wolfstrom). These types of people make up the furry fandom and make it what it is. The furry fandom has many things that make it special, but the three main differences that make it a group of people in its own right are: the furries and their diversity, the many artists and their artwork, and the conventions they bring together thousands of furries in one place. .To fully understand the furry fandom, people must understand the idea that binds its members together. The Furry Fandom is a large community of people who come from all socioeconomic and political backgrounds. Several people consider themselves "Furries". Some are enthusiasts or artists of visual, written, or theatrical arts such as cartoons and fantasy stories. Some are fans or mascot and character artists, such as professional theme park and corporate mascot or volunteer character artists. Because the Furry Fandom encompasses a wide range of people and interests, calling someone a "Furry" is similar to calling someone a "sports fan." While the fandom has a wide range of diversity, a common misconception is that all furries are fursuiters. A fursuiter is any person who wears any form of costume... middle of paper... also gathers in small numbers. Furry gatherings where attendance is less than one hundred are called "fur meets" and are not regulated by the Anthropomorphic Conventions Committee (furry fandom info center). As you can see, the furry fandom has three main characteristics that make it what it is. There is diversity in fandom and the reasons for that diversity. The art and the amazing artist who creates it help differentiate the fandom and the conventions that allow furries to come together and enjoy what the fandom has to offer. Furries are a group of people who like the idea that animals can walk and talk just like us, that's the only thing that makes them a group of people. Furries come in all shapes, sizes, breeds, genders, personalities and nationalities. So the next time you see a furry friend, don't classify him before you get to know him.