Photography by Jessica Turner
When Pamela Robison Mullins lays out one of her 3-pound chihuahua’s 30 outfits, this female dog knows it’s time to work.
Robison Mullins is a real estate agent, Airbnb host and tour guide, a photographer, painter, decorator and longtime world traveler, and she’s also a dealer at Lula B’s Antique Mall on Fort Worth Avenue.
Sophia Loren accompanies her renaissance mom to Lula B’s every Saturday, sitting comfortably all day in the crook of Robison Mullins’ arm or in a baby sling that she wears.
“She’s so small that sometimes people don’t notice her right away, and they’ll go, ‘Oh my gosh, look at her dog!’” Robison Mullins says.
The tiny pup likes children and will let anyone pick her up.
Robison Mullins has owned many chihuahuas over the years, but Sophia Loren is the only one that is so tolerant and so chill. She’ll sit in Robison Mullins’ lap for an eight-hour car trip to Marfa with no complaints.
Sophia Loren came into Robison Mullins’ life several years ago when she was volunteering for Dallas Animal Services.
“My husband said, ‘Oh my gosh, look at this dog. She looks like a kangaroo,’” because she weighed about 1 pound, but she’s always had long legs for her breed, Robison Mullins says.
They had four other chihuahuas at the time, and her husband, retired attorney and Oak Cliff native Kayo Mullins, had doubts. But the little dog’s personality won everyone over.
Sophia Loren, now 7 years old, has her own business cards and an Instagram account (@sophiascurations). Admirers occasionally bring gifts of outfits and accessories to her job at Lula B’s, and she’s the first one some kids look for when they come through the door.
She once jumped out of a cake while dressed as Marylin Monroe, complete with a blonde wig and red lipstick, for a friend’s birthday party. And she goes everywhere with Robison Mullins, including church at Kessler Park United Methodist.
The household also includes Kayo’s 4-year-old papillon, Bandit, a 50-pound terrier mix named Sugar, and Remy, a 12-year-old chihuahua.
“He’s Mr. Grumpy,” Robison Mullins says.
Dogs can be high maintenance, Robison Mullins says. But she and Kayo have a dog sitter they trust, and they plan to resume their world travels soon with a trip to Morocco.
In the meantime, catch Sophia Loren anywhere her mom is.
“I can’t imagine my life without her,” she says.
Read more about our Oak Cliff pets here.
