On the woman who captured the beast:

Photographer Amy Lombard grew up in a house filled with pets and has always loved animals. After finishing a series on IKEA showrooms early last year, she was looking for a new project. That’s when she started going to animal shows. She started with dog beauty pageants and then let her curiosity lead her to new discoveries. Quickly, Lombard came across shows devoted to all sorts of creatures, from reptiles to cats to insects. “Anything you can imagine, there is a subculture for it,” Lombard said. “If you look in the corners of the Internet, you will find it.”

More from Lombard’s series here.