Blanca Flor & Annita Rodríguez
A lifelong love
Meet Blanca Flor, who shares her life with Annita, a lovely ARISTOPETER we’ve known for a while, and we can say that she is a full-fledged ARISTOPETER. Annita is super sweet and affectionate, and she is the same with Blanca Flor. She puts the same care, perfectionism, and dedication into everything she does. An exceptional professional and an even better person. We loved interviewing her and hearing about her life THE ARISTOPETER.
Tell us about Blanca Flor. How did she come into your life? How long ago?
I’ve known Blanca Flor practically since she was born, and we always had a very special relationship, but at first, she lived with Jota (José Ramón Rocabert), my best friend and almost brother. When he moved to Paris for a while, he asked me if I could keep her, and soon Blanca Flor had become the queen of my house: she was 4 years old then, and now she’s about to turn 14, so she’s been with me for almost 10 years. Although Jota returned from Paris a few years later, he was incredibly generous, letting Blanca Flor continue to live with me. I think if he had wanted to take her back, we would have had a Kramer vs. Kramer situation.
Where does her name come from? Why did you choose that name?
Blanca Flor was a somewhat unexpected gift. A friend brought her to Jota because his mother had two Yorkies (Elvis and Priscilla) who had had puppies, and he thought a puppy would be the perfect companion for him. When she arrived, she was tiny, fitting in the palm of a hand, and seemed fragile and a little dainty. Jota decided to find the biggest name for that tiny little thing, and among all the options (some worthy of a soap opera star), Blanca Flor won. When she first came to live with us, my boyfriend was mortified when he took her for a walk and had to call her in the middle of the street, but the truth is, we find people's reactions when they discover her name quite amusing…
Tell us something about her. What anecdote would you share with all ARISTOPETERS?
I have thousands of anecdotes because we’ve spent many years together and been through everything. Also, whenever possible, she has come to work or traveled with me. As a curiosity, I can tell you that she was the first pet to enter the Ateneo Científico y Literario de Madrid, and possibly the only one with a photo sitting on Manuel Azaña’s desk, where the Second Spanish Republic was forged. She loves the beach, and in the countryside, she gets wild and lets her terrier spirit out. Although I almost always take her with me when I travel, when she sees me starting to pack, she jumps inside the suitcase just in case…
Now she’s old and has senile dementia and other ailments. Sometimes she wakes us up at 5 in the morning because she’s disoriented, but she’s still the best and noblest dog in the world. My boyfriend and I try very hard to make her remaining years as happy as possible.
Tell us something about yourself. What do you do for a living? What do you like to do most?
I am an events and advertising producer, and I also share a life project with Blanca Flor’s "father": Brunch Magazine, a digital fashion and trends magazine that has served as a platform for us to project our 360º branded content and brand awareness service. I also teach at Camilo José Cela University (UCJC), so as you can see, I’m quite busy. I’m very lucky to enjoy my work, and since I’m a freelancer, I’m also the master of my own time, which today, in my opinion, is a precious treasure.
When I’m not working, what I like most is to travel, discover new places, and get lost in them. If I won the lottery, Blanca Flor, my boyfriend, and I would become true nomads.
What would you say to someone who wants to incorporate an ARISTOPET into their life?
I would tell them that taking care of an ARISTOPET is one of the best things that will happen to them in life. The love for a pet is undoubtedly the most selfless there is. The affection that animals give us is also the purest. But we must not forget that being an ARISTOPETER is a great responsibility. Pets are not accessories; they are living beings who depend entirely on us. They require care and sometimes have special needs that we must be prepared to take on with affection and complete generosity.
Photography: Cristina Andreu