When the Underdog SA Pitbull Rehab Centre sent out the call for building materials to the community to help their desperate situation to house more dogs, they were met with little support…until one woman and her family decided to give the underdogs an upper hand!
Pretoria, South Africa (19 February 2024)—The Underdogs SA Pitbull Rehabilitation Centre in Pretoria recently welcomed roughly 1300 to 1400 gifts worth as much as a dream coming true—bricks! While bricks as a gift might seem like an unconventional choice to the everyday Joe, for the pit bull champions hoping to house more pit bulls, these are essential building blocks for a heartwarming future that will help one of the most misunderstood breeds in need.
In December, Underdogs called out to the community and shared word of desperate plans to build more kennels. In 2023, the rehabilitation centre saw 107 intakes and 86 successful adoptions, but with limited kennel spaces and many people begging the facility to take in pit bulls despite the space issues, owner inspector Estelle Smith—a longtime pit bull champion—and her centre were under a lot of stress.
When little help had come forth in assisting with the building hopes and essential dreams, things were looking bleak. That was until Yolanda van der Merwe and her family stepped in to give the underdogs the upper hand on their situation.
Thanks to Yolanda and the van der Merwes, a healthy amount of bricks have made their way to the centre who shared their deep gratitude for her kindness.
“There was members of the public who promised to help us for we are in desperate need to build more kennels but nothing materialised,” the centre shared as to why Yolanda’s brick gifts meant so much.
Other hopes Underdogs have are to organise cement, building sand, reinforcing wire, fencing, angle iron, square tubing, round bar, and roof sheeting, amongst others that Estelle would be happy to chat to any pit bull lovers about.
You can contact the underdogs at management@underdogs.co.za!
Meanwhile in other hopeful news for dogs, 5 dogs rescued from the Cambodian meat trade have finally landed safely in Cape Town where the journey to find them forever homes has commenced. Survivors and ambassadors of all the dogs who have suffered before them; their new chapter in the Mother City is not only their best option for the loving life they should’ve always had, but a reminder of the incredible people who did not give up on them.
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