Pretending You're A Dog Isn't Just For Kids Anymore, Meet The Grown Man Who Lives His Life As A Dalmatian
The world is full of interesting hobbies and they're all at your disposal, especially if you have a decent amount of money in your wallet. Some people like to climb mountains and sky-dive, others like to rid bikes or jog, and some people like art and music.
You know though, those all sound like pretty normal things you would not be surprised to hear about if your friend told you about enjoying them. Not all hobbies are created equal.
Not that there is anything wrong with escaping reality, but some of the ways people choose to do so can be really confusing for the rest of us. Some people like to dress up as anime and video game characters, others like to dress up as though they live in medieval times, and others like to pretend they are animals.
But for some people, it's not just dressing like animals. It's living a second life as an animal. Such is the case for 32 year-old Tom Peters. If you met Peters in the street you'd meet a theater and lighting technician but other people know Peters for his other persona, a dalmatian.
Individuals like Peters who assume a canine persona go all out. They wear custom-made costumes, prowl around on all fours, and even wear a collar. Peters and his story went viral after he appeared on a British daytime TV talk show called This Morning.
Peter's canine persona is called "Spot," and as Spot, Peters takes his role seriously. For him, it is not just a hobby. It is a lifestyle. Peters says that his custom dalmatian costume helps him properly achieve his persona as Spot and he is intensely dedicated to the concept.
Primarily, he wanted to address misconceptions the average person has about people like him who live a second life in their alternative personas. He told the hosts of This Morning:
People think of it as seedy and that no one should see it. But we're not there to cause mischief, we're there to have fun and literally be treated as a puppy!
Tom also insisted that the canine persona is not a sexual thing.
Of course, that's not exclusive. He also said it can be a "catalyst" and "lead on" to other things.It's not a sexual thing. It's a lifestyle. An escapism. To get away from money and the hectic lifestyle we have.
He said:
Because you relax and unwind, you could start from being a puppy and lead onto something in the bedroom.
Rachel Watson admits that she called off their engagement all the way back in 2008 specifically because of Tom's unusual lifestyle. However, this did not stop them from being "best friends." Not only did Rachel insist the pair are the best of friends, but that their arrangement has made them closer than ever, even more than when they were in a typical relationship. Additionally, Rachel says that the videos "The Secret Life of Human Pups" helped her understand Tom better, along with other people like him.
As Spot says:
"We do role play as a child, so why can't we do it as an adult?"
