Upcoming Events

The Critter Collective SIG is hosting two back-to-back events in November! Make new friends at the munch on the 19th and romp around at the Mini-Mosh with activity stations on 21st! 

The Critter Collective SIG is hosting a Mini-Mosh on November 21st from 7pm-9pm! Come play with us and befriend critters and handlers in our community! For handlers and critters that want more hands-on activities, we will also have stations for Toy Making, Petting and Praising, Grooming, and Coloring! The quiet Cuddle Den brings cozy pillow-fort vibes for critters looking for something calmer. This mosh is mini because it will be held in a separate space from the main dungeon, with a reserved 2-hour time slot for our exclusive use. We can keep the mosh area out past 9pm but the rules change slightly to allow other party attendees to use available furniture. Please email info@ohiosmart.org for the event location!

Activity Stations and Cuddling Den

Want to make your own squeaky or rope toy? At the Toy Making station we will have supplies to make a no-sew fleece squeaky toy from a variety of patterns and fabric colors choices.  

Did your fur or hair get a little disheveled while moshing around? Come to the Grooming station and choose a grooming service from the menu to get all prim and proper by the community handler! Clean hair clips, hair ties, and brushes will be available, or you can bring your own!

The Petting and Praising station will have a friendly neighborhood handler on hand to provide an array of petting for our critters that want touches. These can be as simple as a pat on the top of the head with some praises or belly rubs. If the critters are well behaved the Handler may provide treats!

If you need a to calm down from the moshing or just want a reprieve from the rambunctious mosh area? The Cuddling Den will be a blanket-fort covered in pillows, cushions, and blankets for optimal cuddling and cozy vibes. If you want a quiet creative activity, the Coloring Station will have animal themed print outs, coloring books and markers to color to your hearts content!

What to know before you go!

What’s a mosh?

A mosh is a gathering where critters of all kinds have access to a large mat area covered in balls, dog toys, kitty toys, squeakers and rope for some friendly tugging! Moshing is a group activity, where handlers and critters that step onto the mat accept general etiquette of moshing listed below. Spectators that are standing within a few feet of the mat’s edge may also interact with critters moshing and are expected to adhere to mosh etiquette.

Moshing Etiquette for Third Saturday in November (11/21): 

• Stepping onto the mat or hanging around the border of the mat means you accept other critters and handlers may interact with you. It is implied consent for verbal/social interaction only, and does not imply consent for touching.  
• Many critters in headspace are nonverbal and may communicate with body language, growling/meowing/hissing/barking, or nonvocal gesturing to play with a toy together.
• No shoes on the mats. Shoes are allowed on the black “puzzle” foam squares that may be bordering the mats.
• Please have genitals covered
• Do not put communal toys in your mouth. You are welcome to put your personal toys in your mouth. 
• Remember to ask for consent to touch, pet, or provide scritches. 
• Critters in their headspace may unintentionally bump into each other while playing, which is ok.
• Roughhousing, grappling and “shoulder-checking” should not be done on the communal mat and should be a negotiated scene between the interested parties in a separate area.
• At 9pm the Arch dungeon opens to allow other party attendees access to furniture in the room. We are allowed to keep the moshing area open provided critters are still playing. We ask at 9pm that spectators watching the mats and interacting from the sidelines lower their voice or join onto the mat to continue playing.