Over 1,000 people, who identify themselves as dogs, gather in Berlin

A thousand participants gathered in Berlin who self-identified as dogs. (Representational)

A gathering of individuals identifying as dogs at the Berlin Potsamer Platz railroad station in Germany has ignited a wave of controversy, raising questions about the boundaries of self-identification and the blurred line between identity and fetishization.

The viral footage of over 1,000 participants who preferred to be recognised as canines and communicated solely through howling and barking has sparked calls for "animal control" and unleashed a barrage of online criticism.

Critics questioned the authenticity of their canine instincts, suggesting survival tests in the Siberian tundra and even humorously wondering how these "dog-identifying" individuals would handle canine necessities.

This follows the online sensation of Toco, the human collie from Japan, who is living out his dream of becoming a dog through a $14,000 hyperrealistic suit. Toco expressed his desire to connect with others who share similar aspirations, a sentiment shared by many who identify as "therians."

The term "therians" refers to individuals who identify as a creature other than human, a concept distinct from "furries" who engage in animal costume play. According to Dr. Elizabeth Fein, an associate professor of psychology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, some therians genuinely believe they possess the soul of a different species within their human bodies.

There are two distinct groups, as some therians and furries may overlap but maintain separate identities.

Tom Peters, a Brit who identifies as a Dalmatian, and Toru Ueda, a Tokyo engineer who spent $23,000 on a custom wolf suit, exemplify the diverse range of human-canine identification. Ueda spoke of the liberation he feels when wearing his costume, describing it as an escape from human relationships and daily troubles.

Notably, this trend isn't limited to identity; it extends into the realm of fetishization, mainly within BDSM kink culture as "puppy play." Here, participants, predominantly men, embrace canine behaviours with muzzles, collars, and leashes. For some, this unconventional performance has proven to be highly lucrative, with OnlyFans models like Jenna Phillips raking in significant earnings by embracing their "puppy play" personas.