Who is Sandy from In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and what is their importance?

Sandy is Little Orphan Annie's dog in "The Counterfeit Secret Circle Member Gets the Message, or The Asp Strikes Again." Ralph describes Sandy as Little Orphan Annie's Airedale sidekick. Ralph's favorite line in the Little Orphan Annie theme song is "Arf goes Sandy." He points out that Sandy is one of the main reasons that he listens to the Little Orphan Annie radio program.