Rare Hermaphrodite Dog May Be Beacon for Transgender Youth

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ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI – When the pooch is healthy enough, a rare hermaphrodite dog may take an important job as a therapy dog for transgender youth struggling with gender identity issues.

The dog, a silvery-gray pit bull mix the staff at Detroit Dog Rescue has named Cody, has both male and female genitalia.

“It is very, very rare,” the rescue group’s executive director, Kristina Rinaldi, told WWJ Radio. “I haven’t seen it in my rescue career.”

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The dog was among those rescued by the St. Clair Shores-based no-kill shelter, one of the independent rescue and shelter groups that recently began caring for dogs believed to have been mistreated at the Detroit Animal Control facility.

“Cody is a very loving dog and I’m hoping Cody will be able to help young adults with a similar situation in the future,” Rinaldi said on the Detroit Dog Rescue Facebook page. “It’s definitely something I’m looking into, Cody has an important purpose.”

Among the groups DDR will reach out to is Ferndale-based Affirmations, a community center for Metro Detroit’s LGBTQ population.

The dog also is a candidate for adoption.

“Cody is still going to live his life out like a completely normal dog,” Rinaldi told the Detroit Free Press. “Cody’s going to be a great pet for somebody.”

The first priority, though, is returning Cody to good to health.

Currently in quarantine and under the intensive care of the staff of the Greenfield Animal Hospital in Southfield, Cody arrived sick and showed signs of distemper and heartworm. Once the dog is healthy enough, surgery will be performed to spay and/or neuter the dog.

Caring for the dog will be expensive — as much as $3,000, according to the shelter’s Facebook page. Donations may be made at DetroitDogRescue.com/donate.

» Photo via Detroit Dog Rescue