Handler Rick (He/Him), aka Champ the Fox, is the 2024 Iron Pup titleholder for the Austin, TX area. He is a Member-at-Large of Boop Society of Central Texas, which hosts numerous monthly events for pups and critters in the area. He is also a co-founder and Mentor for Critter AMP, an extensive 8-session program which aims to help pet players become upstanding future models for the community by increasing their understanding and appreciation of “critter culture.” To promote health and wellness, he created the K9-9K, a fun run/walk for pet players that happens in March. He is a founding member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Group at his workplace, contributing regular articles to the employee newsletter to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues/holidays. His advocacy efforts focus around transgender subject matter, demisexuality in kink, pet play for mental wellness, pet play as entertainment/recreation/physical fitness, and reproductive justice for LGBTQ+ individuals. He loves nature and being outdoors and believes kink deserves to be destigmatized and gain wider acceptance. His husband, Pup Neil, is also a prominent member of the community who enjoys volunteering and being an incredible Emotional Support Pup.