When Maria's parents complained about their neighbor's unruly pet, little did they know that he was a warlock who would cast spell on their daughter, cursing her to spend a whole year walking on all fours and roll over whenever someone pets her. She eventually had to leave town out of sheer embarrassment.

She tries her best to act like herself, but sometimes she does something doglike without thinking about it. Case in point: her back legs still have human joints, but she often finds herself trying to stand on her tiptoes nonetheless.