Group Celebrates 'Furry' Lifestyle

• Track Family History Through Ellis Island • Search For Unclaimed Funds • Get The Latest Weather • Auto Safety: New Advanced Airbags Offer Increased Protection

NewsChannel5's Leon Bibb reports on what a "Furry" is.

Meet Amadeo, a red panda. Under all the fur is Amadeo's creator, Marshall Woods (pictured, below), a computer network administrator from Fairlawn, Ohio.

"I think it's strange myself," Woods said. "It's sort of an odd thing to be involved in. I'd always been uncomfortable with myself as a human. I never really like the human form; I was never really terribly happy that way."

Woods lives and works like most people, but he said that inside, he's very different.

"It's how I've been my whole life," he said. "I always had an interest in animals. I always wanted a more animal-style body: fur, tail and so forth."

Woods is a member of the Ohio Furries, a group of about 80 people who have a special affection for animals.

"I perform, I compete; there are competitions," he said. "I've won quite a few of them."

Furries are popping up across the country, attending conventions like the Midwest Furfest.

"I thought I was the only person who was like that, but it's nice to find there are other people who do, in fact, feel that way," Woods said.

Bob Repas of Elyria, Ohio, is a college instructor by day, and a Furry on the side.

"I've always had an interest in cartoons, and that interest has not left me as I've gotten older," he said.

The Furries hold several conventions each year.

To learn more about the Furries, visit the group's Web site.

Archived Stories by Date:

May 07 May 06 May 05 May 04 May 03 May 02 May 01 Apr 30 Apr 29 Apr 27 Apr 26 Apr 25 Apr 24 Apr 23 Apr 20 Apr 19 Apr 18 Apr 17 Apr 16 Apr 13 Apr 12 Apr 11 Apr 10 Apr 09

News Resources Message Boards: Post/Read Msgs Conversations: Start a live discussion