Thread by @MetroUK

'It's the happiest I've been since coming out as gay' 🙌

@CWTWheels describes how his experience of pup play pushed him beyond his comfort zone, boosted his confidence & increased his happiness.

🧵👇
trib.al/05ocVnf

'As soon as I entered the nightclub venue last month, one of my first sights was a ball pit and safety mats.

'Then, I saw a guy dressed up as a puppy wearing a Christmas jumper walking up to me.

'He gave a friendly hello before he bent down to be level with my wheelchair...

'...gave me a hug and a belly rub.

'Dopamine was running rampant, and I felt so relieved. I felt calm and confident. 🥰️

'But I wasn’t always this way.

'Confidence has never been something that’s come easy to me.'

'I have osteogenesis imperfecta, meaning that my bones are not formed in the same way as most.

'My ribs are barrel-shaped, my arms are bent back on themselves and my legs are incapable of holding my body weight, so I have to use my wheelchair to get around everywhere.'

'Because of my disability, I’ve often felt like I don’t fit in anywhere.

'Then when I came out as gay in 2014 at the age of 24, things didn’t get any better.

'I also discouraged from using dating apps like Grindr as most of the guys on them blocked me without a reply.'

'Seeing a pup at Pride was my first real-life experience with the community, and truth be told, the sight of people wearing different-coloured masks and acting like dogs freaked me out completely.'

'I feel guilty and regretful for acting this way.'

A few years later, 'I did a little more research and found out that the puppy play community is a group of people who dress like dogs and take on a different persona with a different name.

'Some treat it as a sexual kink, while others care more for the roleplay aspect.'

'I decided to follow a few pups on Twitter and Instagram to start.

'It was the decision that would change my life.

'They were willing to talk about anything; they were supportive when I felt a bit low, and I started to feel comfortable.' 👏

'This, I decided, was the time to find my own puppy mask – no matter what it cost.

'I finally received my first mask on 7 December 2021.

'I was nervous, but I was excited. I put the mask on… and everything immediately felt right.'

'It was like I’d found the missing piece of the puzzle that was my life. 🤩

'I was the happiest I’d felt since I came out as gay.

'Less than two weeks later, I attended my first ever Doghouse pup meet-up.'

'At no point did I hide in a corner, like I usually would in new social situations.

'I wanted to participate; I wanted to learn more about pup mannerisms and I didn’t feel out of place.

'These meetups allow people to be pups in a safe environment.'

'Since then, my confidence has grown and grown.

'I also arranged to meet with someone I’d spoken to there & we ended up sleeping together.

'He was so helpful in getting me undressed, as well as gentle and patient around my disability.

'I felt much happier and more fulfilled.'

'For me, puppy play has allowed me to be the person I’ve always wanted to be.' 🙌

'It provides me with a bit of control in a life that’s restricted by my disability.'

Read the full story here 👇
trib.al/05ocVnf