Many of us as youngsters played dress-ups with our dolls, probably only dreaming they’d come to life with the scripts we’d written for them in our heads.
But 19-year-old Ellie Damianopoulos is lucky enough to have a walking, talking — well, barking — living doll with a wardrobe stylish enough to rival any Barbie’s.
Evie is a five-year-old toy poodle, who lives with Miss Damianopoulos, her mum, step-dad, step-sister and another fur sibling named Leroy, a nine-year-old English Staffordshire terrier, who Evie “sometimes” chooses to get along with.
“Leroy is very loving and tries to be Evie’s friend,” Miss Damianopoulos said.
“Evie is very jealous and does not like it when we show too much affection to Leroy.”
Evie has lived with and bonded with Miss Damianopoulos since she was eight weeks old, so it’s no wonder the pair’s favourite thing to do together is snuggle.
Miss Damianopoulos said her spoiled inside dog wouldn’t know what cold was.
“If she were to go outside on a cold morning, she would need her Country Road puffer jacket or jumper,” she said.
Despite the cold weather, Evie still “goes off her head” when it’s time for walkies, recognising that as soon as Miss Damianopoulos reaches for her runners it’s go-time.
“She can tell if I’m taking her on a walk just by me putting on my trackies and hat,” Miss Damianopoulos said.
Besides her routine walks, Evie’s other passions include car trips and chasing birds.
Miss Damianopoulos said Evie was a playful and friendly dog, who was quite intelligent.
“She loves to be around people and always needs to know what’s going on,” she said.
“She’s our little guard dog and lets us know when someone dares to walk past our house.”
The fluffy little princess is not a morning dog.
She prefers to sleep the earlier hours away in her Peter Alexander pyjamas, which adorably match Miss Damianopoulos and her mum Leanne Bodycoat’s Peter Alexander pyjamas.
“I’m always happy to expand Evie’s wardrobe,” Miss Damianopoulos said.
“At the moment she has her Peter Alexander PJs, a pink Barbie jumper and many Country Road jumpers.”
The pampered pooch places herself high — if not at the top — of the family pecking order, frequently reminding her housemates who pulls the strings.
“She can be bossy sometimes,” Miss Damianopoulos said.
“If you sit on her spot on the couch, she will tap your leg, asking you to move.”
Despite the diva demands, Miss Damianopoulos said she was loved by all who met her and at the end of the day, Evie just wanted to be everyone’s friend.