When Petra began her journey with Sidney, she never imagined how profoundly he would change her life. Their story is one of resilience, transformation, and the healing power of love—both given and received.
Petra first encountered Sidney when she joined the Terra Canis team around Christmas 2023. He was a shy and anxious dog, you can see the distrust in his face in these old pictures from his start at the sanctuary, you see a dog that has almost given up. Being a Border Collie, Sidney is very people-oriented und craves human connection.
Being abandoned by his human can break a Border Collie much more than other breeds. So Sidney was in a state of mourning and isolation. Then, like through an intervention from the universe, enters Petra: She had come to work at the sanctuary, providing care and comfort to dogs who had endured unimaginable hardships. Among the twelve dogs she worked with, Sidney stood out—a lively yet anxious dog who spent much of his time pacing and barking along the fence. Petra, already an experienced dog person who had owned five dogs before, recognized that Border Collies require special attention due to their high energy and intelligence. She educated herself online about the breed, learning effective training methods and how to connect with them.
“I was immediately drawn to him,” Petra recalls. “There was a sadness in his eyes, but also a spark of something unbroken.”
When she learned Sidney’s backstory, her connection deepened. He had been found as a puppy in 2020, chained and alone in a quarry, with no one to care for him. His journey to survival was nothing short of miraculous, but his time without human connection had left scars. At the Terra Canis Dog Sanctuary, with the help of our amazing team, Sidney learned to trust people again. He became more calm and confident, and adjusted to the life at the sanctuary.
“I started taking him on short walks and spending time more with him,” Petra shares. “At first, he was wary, but slowly, he began to trust me. Seeing him relax and let his guard down was incredibly moving.”
One moment in particular solidified their bond. “Sidney kept giving me his paw, over and over,” Petra says, smiling at the memory. “Sylvia, another volunteer, joked that he wanted to show me something. When I followed him, he proudly led me to his hut and wagged his tail as if to say, ‘This is my home!’ It was such a simple gesture, but it touched me deeply.”
At the time, Petra couldn’t imagine adopting Sidney. Her life felt too unstable, her living situation uncertain. But the seed of their connection had been planted, and it began to grow. And while Sidney was gaining more security and confidence with the pack at the sanctuary, a few months later, during a springtime walk with Sidney, Petra faced a personal setback. She leapt down from a small hill, only to land awkwardly and break her wrist. “I was devastated,” she admits. “With my dominant hand in a cast, I couldn’t work as a drinking water consultant. It felt like my world was crumbling.”
After the accident, Petra decided to adopt Sidney. Sidney, however, refused to let her sink into despair. His boundless energy and need for movement became Petra’s salvation. “He dragged me out into the fresh air every day,” she says. “His enthusiasm for exploring the outdoors was infectious. Even when I wanted to stay in bed, he wouldn’t let me. And slowly, I started to heal—not just physically, but emotionally too.”
As a Border Collie, Sidney’s herding instincts drove him to stay active, and Petra had no choice but to keep up. “His need for movement taught me a powerful lesson,” she explains. “When life feels stagnant, the key is to keep going—literally and metaphorically. Through those walks, I began to see beyond my struggles and rediscover the beauty of life around me.”
Petra also found inspiration to return to her passion for water consultancy. Her work—helping people understand the importance of clean, pollutant-free water—had always been deeply meaningful to her. “During one of our walks, the idea struck me: Why not host consultations over Zoom, even with one arm in a cast?” she says.
That idea became reality. Petra adapted her business model. “Sidney didn’t just get me moving physically—he reignited my spirit,” she says. “He reminded me to focus on possibilities, not obstacles, and to embrace life with curiosity and passion.”
Adopting Sidney became the natural next step. Their bond had grown stronger with each passing day, and Petra knew they were meant to be together. “Sidney transformed from a nervous, wary dog into the most loyal and loving companion,” she says. “And for me, he’s been so much more than a pet. He’s my hero and teacher on four paws.”
Looking back, Petra often thinks of the day Sidney led her to his hut. “It was as if he was inviting me into his world, just as I had invited him into mine,” she reflects. “Together, we’ve created something beautiful—a shared journey of healing and hope.”
When asked what message she would share with others considering adopting a dog, Petra’s answer is simple: “Dogs like Sidney have so much love and loyalty to give. They just need someone to see their potential. Adopting a dog isn’t just about giving them a home—it’s about embracing a journey of joy and transformation together.”
Petra’s story is a testament to the profound connection that can form between humans and animals. Through Sidney’s resilience and unconditional love, she found her own strength and rediscovered the joy of living.
“Sidney has given me so much more than I could ever give him,” she says. “He’s my greatest teacher and my greatest gift.”
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