About Petplay & CT-PAH
Petplay is a form of consensual role expression in which a person takes on an animal identity — most commonly a pup, kitten, fox, pony, or other creature. For some it’s about dropping into a different headspace, setting aside the weight of everyday human social performance and experiencing something more instinctive, playful, and present. For others the animal identity is a continuous and integrated part of who they are. There’s no single right way to experience it. CT-PAH welcomes the full spectrum.
All of them. While our roots are in the pup community, Connecticut Pets and Handlers is home to pets of every variety — kittens, foxes, ponies, and more. If you have an animal identity, you belong here.
No. CT-PAH is an LGBTQ+ organization and our community is predominantly queer, but we do not require attendees to identify as LGBTQ+ to join us.
Not at all. Curious newcomers, supporters, friends, and allies are all welcome. You don’t need a label or a role to walk through the door.
CT-PAH is a leather and petplay organization with deep community ties to the furry world. Many of our members identify as furries, and furry-friendly gear including fursuits is welcome at our events. If you come from a furry background and are curious about petplay, you’ll find familiar faces here.
About Pet Night
Pet Night is CT-PAH’s monthly event at 168 York St Cafe in New Haven. Each event features three elements: an educational discussion on a petplay or kink-adjacent topic led by a community member or guest presenter; a guarded puppy mosh where pets can play freely in a supervised and consent-aware environment; and dance music from regional and national DJ talent. The format was designed to be welcoming to first-timers while offering something meaningful for experienced community members.
The mosh is a designated play space where pets can interact, roughhouse, and drop into headspace. It is supervised by at least one Handler whose role is to keep pets hydrated, de-escalate heavy roughhousing, and intervene immediately in the event of a consent violation. The mosh is a safe space, not a free-for-all.
No. Pet Night is not a sex event and sexual activity is not permitted.
Come as you are — street clothes are completely fine, especially if you’re attending for the first time. Leather, latex, fursuits, pup gear, and ab/dl wear are highly encouraged for those who want to gear up. You’re welcome to change into or reveal fetish or kink gear at the event. The one rule: genitals and female-presenting nipples must remain covered at all times. Jockstraps are fine.
Always ask before taking pictures of anyone. This is a firm rule and part of our Code of Conduct. Not everyone is out in all areas of their life and photography without consent is taken seriously.
Consent & Safety
Consent is mandatory at all CT-PAH events and can be withdrawn at any time. We use a badge color system to help communicate comfort levels at a glance:
🟢 Green — I’m friendly, interactions welcome
🟡 None/Yellow — I’m shy, ask if I’d like to interact
🔴 Red — I will initiate when I’m ready
Always ask before touching another person. Always ask before taking photos. Respect everyone present — attendees, performers, bartenders, and event staff alike. Safety is our number one priority.
CT-PAH operates a zero tolerance policy. Anyone who violates our Code of Conduct may be asked to leave and may be banned from future events. If a history of consent violations comes to light, the same applies. If you experience or witness a problem, please speak to event staff immediately.
Joining CT-PAH
Our community lives primarily in our Telegram and Discord groups, where members connect, share, and stay up to date on events. Links to both can be found on our Contact page. You’re also always welcome to simply show up at Pet Night — no advance registration required.
No. Many of our 240+ members participate primarily through our online communities. Whether you’re local, elsewhere in Connecticut, or just not ready to attend in person yet, there’s a place for you here.