Saving Sid

One of our wonderful adopters keeps us regularly update on "Life with Sid"on our Happily Homed group for adopters. Andrew has kindly allowed us to share some of the milestone stories of the bundle of energy that has turned his life and his home upside-down - in the best possible way of course!

What have I done? Let me begin...

Six months ago, my life changed when Sid, a spotty whirlwind of a Dalmatian, came home with me. To think that just before that, he was on the verge of being euthanised by his previous owners—it’s hard to reconcile that thought with the joyful, loving dog who now fills my days.

Sid is mischievous, no doubt about it. He has an uncanny ability to sniff out anything edible (or vaguely edible) and claim it as his own. The fridge has been raided, socks have mysteriously vanished, and he once paraded around the garden proudly carrying one of my slippers like it was a trophy. He keeps me on my toes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But behind the mischief is a dog with the kindest heart I’ve ever known. Sid doesn’t just wag his tail when I come home—he throws his whole body into it, as if sheer happiness might knock me off my feet. He curls up close when the day has been heavy, pressing his head against me in the way only dogs know how, reminding me that love doesn’t always need words. He follows me everywhere, determined never to let me feel alone.

Sometimes I look at him, lying on his back with all four legs pointing skywards, and I wonder how anyone

ever thought he wasn’t worth saving. He’s not perfect—none of us are—but his love is unconditional, his joy is infectious, and his spirit is unbreakable.

In his own mischievous, loyal, and endlessly loving way, Sid reminds me every single day that second chances are worth taking. And maybe, just maybe, we rescued each other.

One Year On

Helping Hounds Hampshire & Surrounds Charity No: 1200394 - Thank you! This is for you.

A year ago, I made a decision that I still think about almost every single day. Sid — my beautiful, stubborn, unpredictable Dalmatian — was earmarked to be euthanised. I remember staring at his photo, reading the notes, and feeling that pull… the kind that doesn’t really give you a choice. But alongside that pull was something else: doubt.

Was I capable of giving him what he needed?

Was I stepping into something I didn’t fully understand?

What if I failed him?

Bringing Sid home wasn’t a fairytale beginning. It was messy, emotional, and at times overwhelming. There were days I questioned everything — my patience, my experience, even my decision to take him in. He came with fear, confusion, and behaviours that didn’t fit neatly into a “happy ending” story. And if I’m honest, so did I.

We both had to learn.

There were moments of frustration, moments where progress felt invisible, and moments where I wondered if love alone would ever be enough. But somewhere in the chaos, something started to shift. Not all at once — slowly, quietly.

Trust.

Sid began to understand he was safe. And I began to understand that I didn’t need to be perfect — I just needed to show up, every day, for him.

One year on, he’s still not a “perfect” dog. But he’s my dog. He’s full of personality, full of life, and full of a kind of resilience that humbles me. And in truth, he’s changed me just as much as I’ve changed his life.

Saving Sid didn’t just mean giving him a second or third chance. It meant facing my own doubts, my own limits, and choosing to keep going anyway.

And through it all, one thing has never changed:

He is loved. Completely, unconditionally, and without question.

Sid has his forever home. Always.

I / we did it, together…..

Here’s to another great year.