FAMILY AND OF COURSE FIREWORKS.
TODAY ALSO MARKS THE
KICKOFF OF THE SECOND LARGEST
FURRY CONVENTION IN THE WORLD.
WE SPOKE TO ORGANIZERS AND
FURRY FANATICS TO FIND OUT WHY
IT IS SO POPULAR?
Reporter: THE ANNUAL FURRY
CONVENTION MEANS A LOT OF MONEY
FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH
YEARLY, BUT THEY ARE ALSO A
NON-PROFIT.
THEY DON'T MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS
DIRECTLY, BUT THE FURRY
CHARACTERS DO HOLD CHARITABLE
EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND
RAISE MONEY FOR DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT WHAT THE FURRY REALLY NEED
HERE IN PITTSBURGH IN MISTER
ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD IS A PLACE
THEY CAN BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT
JUDGMENT, AGE, OR COLOR.
THE CONVENTION WITH THE WALKING
AND TALKING ANIMALS THAT EXHIBIT
HUMAN QUALITIES BEGAN MEETING
YEARLY IN PITTSBURGH IN 2006.
WE PRODUCE OUR OWN
CHARACTERS AND MATERIAL, AND
PEOPLE BECOME FANS OF EACH
OTHER.
Reporter: IT IS NOW IN ITS
14th YEAR IN PITTSBURGH.
IT IS A CREATIVE OUTLET THAT
ORGANIZES SAY HAS CAUGHT ON.
IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVEN
WORLD OF TODAY IT KEEPS
GROWING.
IT IS A $.9 MILLION COMING
INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
Reporter: THE LOOKS OF THE
LONG REGISTRATION LINE AT THE
CONVENTION CENTER THE THOUSANDS
OF ATTENDEES AND FANS PULL IN
DOLLARS.
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND
ATTRACTIONS ALL GET A PAYOUT.
BUT ORGANIZERS SAY THERE IS
ANOTHER REASON THAT DRIVE
PEOPLE TO ADOPT A CREATIVE
PERSONA, ONE THAT IS FOUND
UNDERNEATH THE COSTUME.
WE WAS A SKINNY KID THAT
NEVER GOT PICKED AT RECESS.
WE WAS THE FAT KID THAT MAY
HAVE BEEN PICKED ON A LITTLE
BIT TOO MUCH AT SCHOOL.
WE WAS THAT BRAINY KID THAT
EVERYBODY WANTED TO CHEAT OFF
OF BUT DID NOT WANT TO INVITE
TWO PARTIES.
Reporter: THEY NOW TURN
HEADS WHENEVER THEY GO AND THEY
HAVE NIGHTLY DANCES AND TOUR
GUIDED BOAT RIDES.
MANY TURN THE FORMER CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES INTO SOMETHING
WONDERFUL.
FEE THAT WHEN YOU CAN PUT A
SMILE ON THE TERMINALLY ILL TO
CHILD'S FACE THAT IS A MOMENT
YOU CANNOT FORGET AND HE KEEPS
THE PASSION GOING.
WE ARE CREATING DOGS, FOXES,
AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER ANIMALS.
THEY ARE BRAND-NEW.
THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED
RACISM, HATRED, BIGOTRY.
Reporter: THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY VISIT PITTSBURGH
SAY IT IS SO ADORED HERE WERE
THE WORDS OF WE BE MY NEIGHBOR
ARE STRONGLY SPOKEN.
THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY ARE
ALSO PREACHING A WELCOMING
MESSAGE.
WE ARE FOLLOWING IN THEIR
FOOTSTEPS.
MANY DON'T LIKE TO REVEAL
THEIR HUMAN IDENTITY, BUT WE
ARE TOLD THAT AMONG THOSE THAT
ARE HERE UNDERNEATH THE SUIT
INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY
, POLITICIAN, A CFO OF A
FORTUNE 500 COMPANY AND A
FIREFIGHTER, AND THERE ARE 20
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN ALL 50
STATES HERE AS WELL.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET THEM
