Dot Sutherland is the mother of Kirk Sutherland and Maria Connor. Dot and husband Eric arrived in Weatherfield in October 2000 for the engagement party of Maria and Tyrone Dobbs. In July 2005, the Sutherlands announced that they were retiring to Cyprus and were going to hand over Sutherland's Kennels to Kirk and Maria. This news pleased Kirk but infuriated Maria - who was intent on selling the business and splitting the proceeds of the sale 50/50 in order to buy a hair salon. Eric and Dot were not happy and stated that they wanted the business to stay in the family so were handing the whole business over to Kirk.