Petra appeared on Blue Peter between 1962 and 1977 and was the first ever television pet. She made her first appearance when Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton presented the show. Chris was the first Blue Peter presenter and he took care of Petra. She became a pet for all the children who were unable to have their own and they eagerly followed Petra’s training and antics on the programme.
Sculptor William Timym made a bronze statue of her after she died and this was given pride of place at the front of Television Centre, before being moved to the Blue Peter garden in 1984. In 2011 Petra’s statue was moved again and she now welcomes visitors to Blue Peter in Salford, as she looks out over the new garden.