Underdogs
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A voice forthe voiceless.
Underdogs SA Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre is run by Underdogs South Africa, a registered non-profit (NPO 096-391) that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes Pitbulls. Founded December 2011 by Estelle Smith.
SinceDec
2011
Our story
Built for the dogs nobody else would take.
Estelle Smith had years of experience with the Pitbull breed and one dream: give these underdogs a second chance by giving a voice to the voiceless. In December 2011 she founded Underdogs South Africa.
Pitbulls are, hands down, the most abused of all dog breeds in South Africa. They are found on filthy patches of dirt, chained, overbred and used for dog fighting. Underdogs is a breed-specific centre where extreme effort goes into rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming them.
Since then we have rehabilitated and rehomed hundreds of Pitbulls into loving homes, with thousands of success stories along the way.
Who you will meet
- Estelle Smith, founder and chairlady
- Nikita, adoptions and enquiries
- Dr Rosalie Steyn, our vet
- Our kennel team and a crew of loyal volunteers
What we stand for
Four lines we never cross.
You will see these on every post we make. They are how we decide what is right for a dog.
Adopt, don't shop
Every dog bred for sale takes a home from a dog already waiting.
Punish the deed, not the breed
Pitbulls are not born dangerous. People make them that way.
Rescue responsibly
A quick home is not a safe home. We assess, vaccinate, sterilise and introduce dogs properly before anyone goes home.
Rescue · Rehabilitate · Rehome · Repeat
Every space that opens up is filled by the next dog that needs it.
Education
Changing minds, one conversation at a time.
Rescue is only half the work. The other half is teaching people the truth about the breed and what responsible ownership looks like.
This year we took an education stand to the Rescue Expo with two days' notice. Instead of selling, we talked: about the Pitbull breed, responsible ownership, animal welfare and rehabilitation. Every conversation is a chance to change a perception, help an owner and maybe save a life.
We also speak up when rescue goes wrong. Puppies passed from person to person, special-needs dogs used for fundraising, strays rushed into unsuitable homes. A deaf or blind dog can have a wonderful life, but only with a family that has been prepared for it.
- Check walls, fences and gates for escape routes
- Always close the gate behind you
- Feed properly. Hungry dogs wander
- Fresh, clean water every day
- Shelter from cold, rain and heat
- Never leave a dog on a chain
- Microchip your pets and keep details up to date