IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND OTHER INFO

 

If you are under the age of 18 as of the start of the convention, we require that you bring a signed and notarized Parental Consent Form with you when you come to the registration desk. If you pre-register, you can mail this form in as long as you send it before the pre-registration deadline. "Notarization" means the consent form has been signed in front of a Notary Public who merely verifies the identity of the person signing the form (your parent or guardian).

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All art and written work submissions must be accompanied by the Artist/Author Release form.  This form can be returned via snail mail or email.

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Contains the rules and how-to's for The Expo, as well as other important dealer information.  A must-have for every dealer.

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If you cannot register online, print out this form and mail it in with your payment before the registration deadline.

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A diagram of the hotel's event space also showing the location of the various departments and event space for Tiny Paws Con.

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A comprehensive guide to local eateries, as well as specific information regarding dietary and access needs and delivery options.

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FAQ

What are “anthropomorphism” and the furry fandom?

"Anthropomorphism" is when an animal, plant, or otherwise non-human object is given human characteristics, including emotional responses, speech, and movement.  We are most familiar with anthropomorphics through cartoons, books, sports mascots, and advertising.  However, human cultures have been using anthropomorphics for tens of thousands of years as a way to understand their world and its effects upon them (i.e. nature gods) and to understand each other (i.e. animal totems).  The furry fandom is a modern community of people who delight in the concept of animals and objects which can represent themselves and others, often expressed through artwork and costuming.

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What is Tiny Paws Con?

Founded by “K’gra Leopard”, the co-founder and co-ConChair of FurFright, a similar convention which ran successfully from 2003 to 2013, and “Nobody”, FurFright's Assistant Dealer Director.  Tiny Paws Con is an anthropomorphic convention which held its inaugural event in 2017.  This convention seeks to break the mold set by other conventions by celebrating and engaging the amazing creative and imaginative spirit of the furry fandom.  The convention offers a dealer room, tabletop gaming, classes and paws-on crafting opportunities for all its attendees, as well as other events.

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HOTEL AND TRAVEL

Please see our Hotel/Travel Info page for more details regarding travel options for Tiny Paws Con.  TPC is closest to Bradley International Airport (BDL), but rental cars or other options can bring you to the area from Tweed/New Haven (HVN), Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, Albany International Airport (ALB), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and JFK International Airport (JFK) in New York City.

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Does the hotel offer suites?

Yes, but the number of suites is very limited.  As in two.  If you are interested in renting a suite, please contact the Con Chairs, providing your real name and contact number so we can pass this information along to the hotel.  The rate for the suites are $349 a night, plus tax.  The suites can be set up with either a king bed or two double beds.

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Do you have any overflow hotels set up?

Should the need arise, there are other hotels located nearby which we will contact to set up an overflow room block.

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When I tried to make my reservation, I was told: 

1) The room block is filled,

2) There are no more single/double bed guest rooms available, or

3) The night I want is outside of what is available for the con’s rate. 

What can I do?

Check the hotel/travel info page.  If the page does not indicate the hotel is completely sold out, contact the ConChairs. They do not promise they can fix the issue, but if a room is available, they will do their best to get it for you.  The hotel has a room block set up for our group.  However, it is possible for us to sell this out before our representative can increase the rooms available to us.  If you need a particular type of room, please understand that your options may be limited and your specific room type may not be available.  If this is the case, check back periodically in case someone cancels their reservation, which sometimes does not happen until the weekend of the convention.

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I made my reservation and need to change it.  What can I do?

Please call the hotel directly and ask them to make the changes.

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The guest rooms are pretty spacious and my friends and I don’t mind getting cozy.  Is it okay for more than four of us to sleep in one room?

The limit for the sleeping rooms is four persons per room.  However, everyone knows furs tend to “den” at the conventions to save money or just because they are all friends.  While the hotel is not going to check every room to make sure only the maximum four people are sleeping in each room, we do not recommend advertising the exact population of your room to the hotel staff.  If you are going to exceed the maximum, bring extra pillows and towels, hang up used towels so they can dry, and keep your rooms as neat as possible, making sure trash is properly disposed of throughout the weekend.  Be polite to housekeeping and tip them before you check-out from your room.

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Can I have a room party?

All gatherings in guest rooms must abide by the hotel’s rules and Tiny Paws Con’s Code of Conduct.  Violators of these rules will be shut down and/or removed from the con and/or hotel.  Please be responsible.

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I am a fursuiter and need a room on a lower floor.  What can I do?

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I am handicapped and need an accessible room or a room in a particular location.  What can I do?

If you are unable to make specific requests when you place your reservation for your guest room, call the hotel directly to see if they can add a notation to your reservation for your special request.

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​DEALERS

I would like to be a dealer at Tiny Paws Con.  Do I have to fill out any paperwork?

Each dealer needs to complete a dealer registration form located on the Dealer Registration page.  They also need to either apply for a sales permit for the State of Connecticut ($100 one-time fee) or use our Dealer Cashier (for a 3% fee from your total sales).  Photocopies or scans of the CT sales permit must be provided by the start of the convention.  If a dealer does not provide a sales permit by the start of the convention, they must sell through the Dealer Cashier or they will be denied space in The Expo.

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​REGISTRATION

When and where can I register?

You can register before the convention through this website or you can register at the door during the convention.  Pre-registration is encouraged to save you money since the at-the-door admission prices will be higher.  Please check out our Attendee Registration page for more information regarding costs and sponsorship levels, as well as our mandatory ID requirements.

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I can only come for one day.  Do I have to purchase a three-day admission?

No, Tiny Paws Con offers single-day admissions at the con.  Single-day admissions cannot be purchased prior to the convention.  If you are not sure whether you’ll be able to attend for one, two, or three days and pre-registration is still open, we recommend pre-registering for the three-day admission since the cost may be comparable.  Prices for single-day admissions are located on our Attendee Registration page.

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After pre-registering, how will I know if my registration went through or was received in the mail?

As pre-registration forms and payments are processed, Tiny Paws Con sends out a confirmation email to let you know we have received your payment and form.  Sometimes, however, large batches of forms and payments come through at the same time so you may not receive a confirmation email promptly.  If you have submitted your forms and payment and do not hear from us, please feel free to contact the Registration Director about the status of your registration form.  We do not send out physical mailings.  If you registered online, we ask you bring a printed (or email) copy of your receipt and any confirmation emails with you to the convention as proof of payment.  This is not required, just highly suggested since sometimes Tiny Paws Con does not receive the payment notice and not everyone writes us to confirm we received their registration and payments.  By bringing your receipt with you, it will speed up your pre-registration process.

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I purchased a basic admission.  Can I upgrade my admission level?

Of course!  You may upgrade your admission as long as pre-registration is open or at the Registration desk at the convention.  As of this time, we cannot allow attendees to downgrade their admission.  Contact the Registration Director for instructions.

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Are minors allowed at Tiny Paws Con?

Yes!  If you are under the age of 18 as of the start of the convention, we require that you bring a signed and notarized Parental Consent Form with you when you come to the Registration desk.  If you pre-register, you can mail this form in as long as you send it before the pre-registration deadline.  “Notarization” means the consent form has been signed in front of a Notary Public, who merely verifies the identity of the person signing the form (your parent or guardian).

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Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (who is registered for the convention) at all times.  All minors must present a signed and notarized copy of the Parental Consent Form at the Registration desk.  If the minor’s parent or legal guardian is physically present at the Registration desk while the minor is registering, a non-notarized copy of the Parental Consent Form may be used.  However, the parent or legal guardian must present a valid copy of their legal identification -- passport, driver’s license, US state- or foreign government-issued photo ID (official ID issued instead of a driver’s license), or military photo ID -- to the staff.  No exceptions will be made to this policy.

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I’m turning 18 during the convention.  Do I still need to bring the Parental Consent form?

Yes, you are still required to bring your notarized Parental Consent Form.  However, on the morning of your birthdate, report to the Registration desk and receive a new label for your badge so you are no longer listed as a Minor.

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What do I need to bring with me to register at the con or pick up my badge if I pre-registered?

All attendees need to show a valid (i.e. unexpired) form of government-issued photo ID.  This can be a:

• US state or foreign driver’s license

• US state or foreign photo ID (an ID offered to those who do not have a driver’s license)

• government or military photo ID

• passport

If you are attending Tiny Paws Con and live in a foreign country, we will accept foreign-issued driver’s licenses, photo IDs, and passports as long as they have not expired.  A passport, however, particularly since it is already required for international travel, is recommended.

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If you have a question about your ID, please contact the Registration Director. Do not leave your questions to chance and hope your ID is the correct one only to be turned away at the Registration desk.  Check the expiration date on your identification and make sure it will not expire between now and the start of the convention. Tiny Paws Con will not be allowing anyone without a valid ID as listed above to attend the convention.

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We also recommend you bring proof of payment--any email confirmations and receipts you received after submitting your registration--with you to the convention just to be safe.

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I pre-registered but just found out I’m not going to be able to attend Tiny Paws Con this year.  Can I get a refund or credit for next year’s event?

Full refunds (or credit for the next year’s convention) will be given if the request is received on or before July 15th.  Half refunds (or half credit) will be issued for requests received on or before July 21st.  No refunds or credits will be issued after July 21st.

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If you think you cannot attend and want to donate your registration fees to our charity(s), you do not need to contact us to cancel your registration.  Besides, if your plans change and you can attend, it's better to have your registration info still in our records rather than for you to have to dig through confirmation emails and receipts to prove you did register and also then need us to prove we didn't issue you a refund.  Let sleeping dogs lie...  ;)

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I will be arriving after Registration closes.  Can I still pick up my badge to join in on the events?

​If you’ll be arriving late (after Registration closes but before midnight) and still want to attend the evening’s events, you MUST have pre-registered for the convention and contacted the Registration Director prior to the start of the convention so your registration materials can be set aside for late pick-up.

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What if my check for pre-registration bounces?

An additional charge of $30 will be billed to anyone whose check bounces. If your check bounces, you have until you check in at Registration to pay the total of your admission and the $30 fee. If you do not attend Tiny Paws Con, you are still responsible for paying the $30 fee for your bounced check. Persons not paying their bounced check fee will be banned from the convention until the amount owed is paid in full.

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PROGRAMMING

I have an idea for a panel.  How can I submit my idea?

Fill out our Programming Submission form.  Simple as that.  Please keep in mind we are looking for submissions from people who want to conduct the class, not just make a suggestion.  After all, we can’t have a panel or event without someone willing to organize and run it!  The deadline for submitting a panel is July 1st.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Can I take photos at the convention?

Of course! You may take pictures within the con space as long as they are for private use. Pictures may NOT be taken of items for sale in The Expo. Please respect your subjects' wishes if they do not wish to be photographed. If you would like to share your pictures with us, please send your files or a link to the ConChairs or mail a CD/DVD to:  Tiny Paws, Inc.; PO Box 219; Rockfall, CT 06481-0219.

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Can I use my video camera or video capture device at the convention?

Yes, you may. However, all video footage MUST be for private use ONLY. Videos may NOT be taken of items for sale in The Expo. Any video footage used for public display, including airing on television or the internet, can only be used with Tiny Paws, Inc.’s written permission.

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I don’t want my picture taken at all.  What can I do?

Please kindly let the photographer/videographer know you do not want your picture taken. Also be aware, however, that your image may appear in general photos being taken of the con. Any video or photos taken of events in private sleeping rooms will NOT be used by the convention.

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Can I bring a webcam into the convention space to upload the feed online?

No. This constitutes a public broadcast of Tiny Paws Con’s events, which goes against our policies.

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VOLUNTEERS

How can I volunteer to help out at the convention?

If you know ahead of time that you would like to volunteer for the con, please contact either the Director of the specific department you wish to volunteer for OR send an email to our ConChairs offering your services. If you have some spare time to kill and a desire to help once you arrive at the con, visit ConOps, fill out your paperwork and grab your timesheet, and report to the department which needs your help.  Volunteering is a great way to help make this convention, your convention, even better!  And you can earn awesome rewards, including a free convention t-shirt (for 8 hours of work) and free admission to next year’s event (12 hours of work)!  Be sure to have the staffperson directing your efforts sign off on your timecard.  Volunteering during setup and breakdown shifts earns you double credit (i.e. 1 hour of work counts as 2 hours).

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How can I become staff?

Persons who devote much time and effort to the convention can be promoted to Staff level. Unless forming a new department, we generally do not hire people to a Staff level without having seen them in action in prior years as a volunteer for the convention.

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CHARITY RAFFLE

I have items or services which I would like to donate to the Charity Raffle.  How can I donate them?

If you are attending the convention, you are welcome to bring your items with you and drop them off in the room where the Charity Raffle is located (Turquoise, located on the second floor near the Fitness Center).  If you are not attending the convention, you can send the items along with friends or local furs who will be attending the convention or contact our Charity Director to let them know you are shipping the item(s) to the con.  Our shipping address is Tiny Paws, Inc.; PO Box 219; Rockfall, CT 06481-0219.  If you need a street address, please contact the ConChairs directly.  When shipping a donation to the convention, please include your real name, fan name, address, email address, and a description of the item(s) included.

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What kinds of items can I donate to the Charity Raffle and Auction?

We accept all donations of goods and services PROVIDED they are suitable for all ages and clean (i.e. not dirty).  No adult or sexually explicit items may be donated to our raffle.  Common donations are: comic books, artwork, plushies, commissions (art or fursuit), ears/tails, paw slippers, role playing or collectable card game items, t-shirts, convention admission, blank DVDs or CDs, computer or video games, DVDs, CDs (music or art) etc.  If you have a question about a possible donation, please contact our Charity Director

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Please note that an artist may donate a commission which may be of an adult nature or plushie/fursuit makers may offer commissions for items which may be adult in nature. However, the displays for the donated items themselves must have a G - PG rating (no nudity, etc.) to be entered into our raffle.

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How much do raffle tickets cost?

Raffle tickets cost $1 each.

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​MISCELLANEOUS

How can I pay for my purchases at the convention?

Registration and the Dealer Cashier will accept US cash and credit/debit cards with the Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express logos.  Checks can only be accepted for pre-registration payments.

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Can I carry a weapon, even if it’s a stage prop (or made of plastic) at the con?

To protect the safety of our attendees, we encourage attendees to leave their weapons--real or otherwise--at home.  We understand that sometimes your costume just wouldn’t be right without your accompanying weapon prop but we cannot allow even fake weapons in the convention space.

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Can I bring my service animal with me to the convention?

The Crowne Plaza is an animal-friendly hotel.  Please contact them regarding their rules and any fees regarding bringing an animal with you to the hotel.  However, only service animals--as defined by the ADA for both physical and psychological aid--can be brought into the convention space.  We cannot allow comfort animals in the convention space.  Any animal, even a trained service animal, will need to be removed from the convention space if they are creating a hazard to our attendees or hotel staff or to anyone's property.  All animals must be properly leashed when in public areas of the hotel.  Please read this FAQ from the ADA regarding the federal laws defining a service animal and their inclusion in public space.  Please keep any animals you bring with you properly and safely caged when you are not in your sleeping room.  If you live locally and are not renting a hotel room, please do not bring your comfort animal with you to the hotel and leave them locked in your vehicle or tied up outside unattended.  Any animals thus left will be remanded to the police and animal control due to owner negligence/abuse.

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Someone is stalking me or has threatened me online.  Can you ban them from the convention?

Our first and foremost goal is to make sure all our attendees can enjoy their time at the convention.  If you are having troubles with someone and you have not taken legal action against them, we recommend the following:

1. Avoid any contact with them at the convention.

2. Stay with a group of friends at all times to avoid being cornered by this person, and make sure your friends follow these recommendations too.

3. Do not engage in retaliatory threats or violence.  This will result in your removal from the con.

If the person harasses or abuses you at the convention, report them to ConOps who will do their best to take care of the matter, including calling the police if it is deemed necessary.  Anyone making charges against another attendee will need to make a written statement and sign it before any action will be taken.

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If you have a restraining order placed against someone (even if you think they will not be at the convention), bring a copy of your court paperwork with you as proof (for con staff and the police) in case they are in attendance and are endangering your safety.

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Persons making false accusations against other individuals in the effort to have them unjustly removed from the convention will be treated as harassers and action will be taken by the convention to remove the false witness(es) from the convention.