How would you react if your coworker told you his dog is transgender? With laughter? Confusion? Denial? For one unfortunate social worker, this very situation landed her in hot water with her employer and kick-started an absurd legal battle.

Sixty-two-year-old Elizabeth Pitt was employed as a social worker by Cambridgeshire County Council. In January 2023, Pitt, who is a lesbian, attended a meeting of the council’s LGBT employee group. A colleague piped up to say that his dog is ‘genderfluid’. This means that its gender identity supposedly fluctuates depending on the day, time or situation. One day, Fido is cocking his leg up over the fire hydrant, the next she is complaining that the term ‘sausage dog’ is outdated and cisheteronormative.

Somehow, this Dachshund with a brain the size of a walnut was able to not only understand and define its own ‘gender identity’, but also convey that to its owner. Given that dogs can barely get their heads around object permanence, I’m not convinced they’re capable of experiencing gender dysphoria or even ‘identifying’ as anything.