Donald Trump’s lavish Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, played host to the American Humane Society’s 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards Gala, one of the first charitable events the venue has hosted in 2026.
But the gala drew some attention for the wrong reasons. Along with raising money for hero dogs, the event was attended by furries, dressed in 18th century regalia.
No, we aren’t kidding.
Attendees were filmed dancing and (we assume) laughing under their furry dog masks, Marie Antoinette-style gowns and Louis XVI tights.
Not all those who attended the event wore the furry masks – many were seen in black tie – but the showstoppers were the furries.
A furry is someone with an interest in anthropomorphised animals – animals who have been given human characteristics, like being able to talk or walk on their hind legs.
But in the United States during the 1980s, it started to become used in relation to a person who dresses up in costumes, resembling either anthropomorphised characters or furry creatures.
The community has continued to grow, with many furries connecting through conventions and online chatrooms.
Many outside the community assume that it is a sexual fetish, but that question itself is a polarising issue in the community.
It’s unclear if the ‘furries’ spotted at Mar-a-Lago were actually a part of the community or just dressing up to entertain guests, but nevertheless, they had people talking.
‘Furries at Mar-a-Lago wasn’t on my bingo card,’ one person wrote.
‘This is some weird ass dystopian sh*t,’ another added.
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Another kept it simple: ‘This is not normal.’
Mar-a-Lago is a venue available to rent by anyone, so it’s unclear if Trump actually donated or was a part of the fundraiser, but some reports claim he gave a brief statement at the gala.
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