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Photos: Venture Inside Anthrocon, the World's Largest Furry Convention

90.5 WESA

Published July 8, 2013 at 7:08 AM EDT

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Furries gather for a photo op Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh as part of Anthrocon, which organizers bill as the world's largest convention for those fascinated with animal characters.

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Anthrocon organizers said 1,162 costumed furries gathered Saturday for this photo op. Convention officials said they planned to submit the number to Guinness World Records.

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Sniffer the Husky checks his phone in a cooling area at the Westin Convention Center Hotel during Anthrocon. The head of a fursuit can reach 120 to 130 degrees, said Anthrocon Programming Director John Cole.

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Convention-goers check a message board on Friday. Throughout Anthrocon, furries post notes advertising parties, ways to get in touch and other messages.

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A note advertises fursuit repair.

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Left: Victor Redtail, from Kansas. Right: Mykiroo, the MMA fighting kangaroo, from Connecticut.

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Left: Sigh, an otter from Virginia. Right: Royce Cobblepot, a walrus, also of Virginia.

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Left: Yappy Fox, of Florida. Right: Danny Dingo, from Ontario, Canada.

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Furries break out in one of many impromptu dance sessions during Anthrocon.

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A costume head rests in what's called a "Headless Zone," an area where fursuiters, or furries in costume, can go to remove pieces of their costumes and cool down. Many fursuiters prefer not to reveal themselves out of costume, so the rooms offer privacy.

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A convention-goer adjusts his costume during a session for first-time Anthrocon attendees.

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Anthrocon Programming Director John Cole talks about fursuit etiquette during a session for first-time convention-goers.

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While the much of the attention is directed toward those in fursuits, only about 20 percent of Anthrocon’s attendees wear costumes.";

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Resting for a moment during Anthrocon.

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Convention-goers make their way toward Anthrocon. Since its first convention in Pittsburgh in 2006, Anthrocon has contributed more than $28 million in direct spending in the local economy, according to VisitPittsburgh, which works with Anthrocon.

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A pack of furries make their way to their hotel in Pittsburgh Friday.

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Sy Husky (left) and Jyno pause for a photo during Anthrocon.

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Throughout the convention, the scene outside the Westin Convention Center Hotel was often crowded with furries and onlookers hoping for a photo. In this case, a fursuiter simply tries to navigate the crowd.

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A passing driver yells hello to a group of furries walking in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday.

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A fursuiter enters a hall in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

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Fursuits often come with large, cartoonish feet, making traveling up and down staircases difficult. Many costumed furries use escalators or elevators instead.

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A message delivered via one fursuiter's back patch.

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A fursuit parade winds its way through the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Saturday.

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An onlooker snaps pictures of the parade.

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Brer Fox, from the Orlando area, mingles with Abby, an 8-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever and its owner, Michelle Smith.

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A fursuiter waves goodbye as elevator doors shut. The convention ended Sunday.

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Since 2006, furries, or people fascinated with anthropomorphics, have descended on Pittsburgh for Anthrocon. It's billed as the world's largest furry convention, and this year, organizers expected the event to attract more than 5,500 participants.

"Anthrocon has become so deeply entwined with Pittsburgh itself," said Anthrocon CEO Samuel Conway. "This is a magnificent city, and heck, if they want to keep having us, we'll keep coming back."

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