This week, meet Annie, a 2-year-old King Charles Cavalier puppy belonging to sophomore Adam Brockett.
Annie was adopted by the Brockett family on Feb. 22, 2022 after the loss of one of their previous dogs, Guinevere (nicknamed Guinny), and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Brockett, they wanted a King Charles specifically because they are known for being friendly, tiny and relatively hypoallergenic.
Once she had been adopted, the family wanted to give her a name related to a queen, seeing as she was a King Charles, whose nickname could also fit in with their previous pets Daisy and Guinny. The first suggestions came from Brockett’s mother, who suggested Marie or Annie as a derivative of Marie Antoinette. However, the rest of the family wasn’t convinced.
“Fortunately, I know a lot about mythology, and after thinking for a bit, I suggested Andromeda,” said Brockett. The name would also still allow her nickname to be Annie.
“Andromeda is one of the few Greek heroines who gets a happy ending,” he said. “Unlike Marie Antoinette, who was decapitated.”
According to Brockett, the rest of the family loved the idea, and the name stuck.
Annie has quite the lively personality; she’s very high energy and loves to play.
“She likes animal-shaped toys, especially dog ones,” Bockett said. “She likes wrestling with her toys, then having to run and grab them.”
Annie also has a habit of stealing her family’s footwear, including shoes and socks, to use as toys.
According to Brockett, Annie is also a food-motivated dog.
“You can get her to do almost anything if you offer her a treat,” Brockett said.
Annie will eat practically anything she’s given, from fruits and vegetables to peanut butter and ice cream.
“She also freaks out from excitement when someone sings ‘Happy Birthday’ because she knows it means cake or some other treat,” Brockett said.
As much as she loves to eat, her family is equally as important to Annie. Her favorite spot to sleep is on the shoulders of her family as they sit on the couch.
“She loves people, loves us even more and is especially attached to my mom,” Brockett said. “If any of us leaves, she will sit at the door whimpering. When we get home, she will jump at us, begging for love.”
According to Brockett, it can take her half an hour or even longer to calm down from the excitement of meeting someone new or spending time with someone who isn’t around frequently.
Despite her love for people, she’s rather averse to sudden loud noises. According to Brockett, she will immediately seek cover under the nearest object when something startles her.
In December, Annie will be turning three, a milestone that is sure to be celebrated on her very own Instagram account. You can follow her at @littlepuppyannie, where her family frequently posts adorable photos and videos of her.
