The infamous furry story.

You’re probably curious as to what I am talking about. Allow me to explain:

Back in the fall semester of 2021, I was in a class called advanced storytelling, which is basically a fancy way of saying feature writing class.

I struggled on my first story, not really being able to hone in on a story that clicked.

And then, the furry story happened.

The story speaks for itself; it’s a story about furries. But it was also the first story I wrote where I found like I found my voice, which is huge as a writer.

Here is a space for this story to reside forever. May it live on in fur-story. Enjoy!

Finding a fursona: a journey into online dating for furries

Online dating. Love it or hate it, dating platforms became a popular way for people to find love, or just build new relationships, in the 21st century.

Tinder can fill a void and Bumble might get the job done, but the dating platforms for very specific communities lie where people might be more successful. Think Farmers Only or Christian Mingle.

One day, through the wondrous vessel called the internet, I stumbled upon one of these niche community-based dating apps, and it sparked my interest. Ferzu. The online dating and social app for furries.

Allow me to explain myself; no, I do not identify with the furries. Simply not my thing. Yet, research on the furry community led me to find Ferzu, download the app and start my own furry-focused dating journey.

I love the internet.

For the unfamiliar, the furry community consists of people who find comfort in dressing up or creating art of anthropomorphic characters called “fursonas.” Almost like Mickey Mouse, but instead of wearing their furry outfit to Disneyland, they wear it to Kroger.

My furry journey turned into a wild ride. What started out a slight spark of interest to meet and talk with furries in the Nashville area eventually turned into a Google search for furry dating platforms and an app called Grokio downloaded onto my phone. Grokio houses our tried and true Ferzu, along with a few other eclectic online dating communities.

The platform describes itself as “a furry community for everyone that celebrates furry fandom, furry artistry and inclusion.” It prides itself on holding the title of the largest social network dedicated to furries and welcomes every fur-son. Get it? Like a person, but fur?

The app serves furries in several ways, including a dating platform, a chatroom, a community page and a social media profile where fur-sons can post photos of themselves and their artwork.

The layout feels like a combination of Facebook, Instagram and OnlyFans. Users can follow people and like their posts and photos; each profile also gives the option to upload private photos other users can request access to. I did not request any access to people’s private photos, but I am sure I could take a wild guess as to what lies beyond.

A tab labeled “People” opens up a world of fursonas big, small and colorful. Foxes seem to be a fan favorite, but many tigers, various breeds of dogs and even a mouse popped up on the screen.

Taking a scroll, users exude characteristics each designed to fit their fur-sonality.

The moment you create a profile, a post is shared to the global page alerting users someone new decided to join the pack. Users started commenting and welcoming me, which in all transparency made me feel very included. Even though I made my profile out of curiosity, it felt like people were excited to meet someone new and join the community.

A tender moment.

A user by the name PotatoWolf slid into my DMs. His profile included photos of his cartoon fursona; a black and red wolf wearing a dark brown button-up shirt, blue jeans, no shoes (to bear his paws and claws) and a potato nestled in his shirt pocket.

His inspiration behind his fursona came across rather simple: “I love wolves, I love red and black and I’m just a potato,” he said.

A man of few words.

He is 27 years-old, but a newcomer to the furry community. He signed up for Ferzu in September after a friend told him about the platform.

PotatoWolf inspired me to spice up my profile so I would seem more approachable. Luckily, I kindly received a furry head I could put to good use.

I took a look at my customizable profile where people could learn more about me. The juicy details lived at the bottom of the page, asking for my community kinks AND my general kinks. To be fair, I did not even think of community and general kinks being two separate categories, but I am glad I know the difference now. I picked tail-pulling and water sports.

From there, I started up a conversation with a guy with the username Boopersnooper. He said his fursona’s name is Jango. No photos uploaded; not even a profile picture. He is looking for someone to illustrate his fursona for him.

He offered me a description of Jango: a red fox with black-tipped ears. He dove into the furry world four years ago, but says he grew up fascinated with anthropomorphic characters in the cartoons he watched.

He, like many people who use the app, finds it easier to channel his fursona while talking to people online because it makes him and his furry counterparts more confident and fur-bulous.

“It took us a while for us to open up and talk and get to know each other because we’re dangerously shy,” he said.

He did not seem dangerously shy when he told me my profile photo looked cute.

The change in my profile photo garnered much attention from my love affairs. PotatoWolf asked if I am a “single Pringle,” which felt very on brand given his infatuation with potatoes.

Don’t make me blush, Mr. PotatoWolf.

In the weeks since I created my profile, I enjoyed my time aimlessly scrolling through the Ferzu global feed and seeing what might come up in their furry minds. Here are some of my favorites:

“Overwhelmed with frustration.”

Preaching to the choir.

“Screw it. Once this shitshow is over, I’m going to spend one year minimum in Iceland.”

Got room for one more?

“100 likes and I’ll post my balls in my private folder.”

Promise?

“#FetishFriday”

It was Thursday.

The phrase “OwO” also came up a lot. Urban Dictionary defines it as a furry-cultivated phrase for something “arousingly interesting.”

OwO.

I could scroll and scroll until my thumb cramped up. The furries provided hours and hours of enjoyable content.

Someone is probably out there thinking “why in Heaven's name is THIS a topic YOU chose to write about?” I came across it quite simply: everyone needs a dating app, even the furries.

Some may see it as odd. Of course, at first glance, it can be difficult to understand anything if it’s not your niche. I will admit to cracking a furry joke or two every once in a while. But as someone who came onto the app out of genuine curiosity, I found the furries quite entertaining.

I gave ‘em a chance.

I did my best to reassure them I am not someone to come in and poke fun at their lifestyle. At least not to their face.

To say I ended up on an unfamiliar side of the internet would be an understatement. I lived out my furry dream. The Ferzu app allowed me to dive into a community I found deep curiosity in. I felt victorious, to say the least.

I am not one to use dating apps, let alone dating apps catered towards furries, but my time on Ferzu did not disappoint. If I identified with the furry community, I believe I could find my perfect fur-son.

If farmers get Farmers Only, the furries deserve Ferzu.