Memories of primary school days often evoke a mix of nostalgia, with images of carefree games like bulldog or tag. However, for many, it was also a time marked by instances when friends would exclude you from their activities, leaving you feeling like an outsider. These rejections, though hurtful, were typically the actions of fellow humans, not canines. But what if you found yourself dressed as a dog and even then, dogs refused to play with you?
Meet the man known as ‘Toco-san,’ who embarked on an unconventional journey to become a ‘human border collie.’ He invested a staggering £12,000 to craft a remarkably realistic dog costume, initially intended for private use within the confines of his home.
Toco’s peculiar pastime saw him don the dog costume and spend considerable time confined to a cage, adopting the persona of a border collie. He even ventured out into the world, taking walks while being led on a leash, all in the pursuit of experiencing life as a dog.
However, despite the attention and praise he garnered online for his unique hobby, his encounters with real canines in the park didn’t go quite as planned. According to Toco, the dogs he encountered seemed “a little surprised” and weren’t particularly interested in engaging with him.
“They seemed a little surprised, and unfortunately, they did not treat me as an equal,” Toco shared with The Sun.
Undeterred by this canine indifference, Toco has devised a new plan. Instead of trying to befriend actual dogs, he is now on the hunt for a kindred spirit—a fellow ‘therian.’ A therian is someone who believes they possess a non-biological identity, feeling a connection to something other than being purely human.
Toco expressed his desire to find someone who shares his unique perspective, stating, “I think it would be great if something like this existed. I would like to meet them.”
However, Toco admitted that his search for a fellow therian hasn’t yielded any results thus far. He remains optimistic but acknowledged the challenges of finding someone who shares his experiences and identity.
Toco’s choice of a border collie as his canine persona was a practical one. The breed’s size allowed for the costume to fit a human comfortably. After all, dressing as a little sausage dog would have posed certain logistical challenges.
“I made it a Collie because it looks real when I put it on,” Toco explained.
While Toco’s hobby may strike some as unusual, he is no stranger to judgment. His YouTube videos often attract critical comments, with some speculating about hidden motives. Toco, however, is undeterred by the skepticism.
“I’m just sad that people can think that,” he expressed. “I love animals and enjoy play-acting like a collie. This is my hobby, so I will carry on.”
In a world filled with diverse interests and passions, Toco-san’s journey serves as a testament to the uniqueness of human identity and the lengths some are willing to go to explore their inner selves, even if it means dressing as a border collie and walking among real dogs.
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