Chocolate, a rescued Pitbull, splashing through water at the Underdogs SA centre

Pitbull rescue · Pretoria · since 2011

Second chancesfor South Africa'smost misjudged dog.

Underdogs SA rescues Pitbulls from chains, fighting and neglect. We heal them, train them and match them with homes that will love them back.

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Registered NPO 096-391
Vaccinated, sterilised, chipped
Home-checked adoptions

Founded December 2011Registered NPO 096-391Pitbulls onlyAdopt, don't shopPunish the deed, not the breedHome checks before & afterNever chained. Never sold.Rescue · Rehabilitate · Rehome · RepeatA Voice for the VoicelessFounded December 2011Registered NPO 096-391Pitbulls onlyAdopt, don't shopPunish the deed, not the breedHome checks before & afterNever chained. Never sold.Rescue · Rehabilitate · Rehome · RepeatA Voice for the Voiceless

Why Pitbulls need us

They are the most abused breed in the country. We are their last stop.

Pitbulls are kept on short chains, starved, bred for profit and thrown into fighting rings. When they finally get out, most shelters cannot take them.

Estelle Smith started Underdogs in December 2011 to change that. Today we are still the only Pitbull-specific rescue and rehabilitation centre in South Africa, and hundreds of dogs have gone from survival to sofa.

2011Founded by Estelle Smith

4Dogs ready for a home today

240Metres of fencing our new camp needs

Mia's road back

01/ 05 · Found

She came in weak and hurting

Mia arrived thin, sore and scared. Step one is always the same: safety, a soft bed, food and clean water.

Our vet gets to work

Every rescue is checked by our vet. Wounds and skin get treated, then come vaccinations, deworming, a microchip and sterilisation.

A hand that does not hurt

Many of our dogs flinch at a raised hand. Staff and volunteers sit, walk and play with them every day until trust comes back.

Confidence on the course

Socialising, manners and our agility camp turn nervous dogs into confident ones. This is where personalities show.

Off the chain, onto the couch

A matched family, a home check and a contract that protects the dog for life. Then the best part: going home.

Health

Trust

Home-ready

Mia lying in a kennel bed during recovery

A rescued Pitbull in the arms of its person

Chained

Baby Mia, recovering a bit more every day.

Meet the dogs

Somebody here is your dog.

Every dog is assessed, vaccinated, dewormed and microchipped, and sterilised or booked for it. Tap a photo to see more.

Terry, red Pitbull looking for a home at Underdogs SA

Male · Red Ready for a home

Still waiting, four to five years on

TerryLoyal

People reported an "extremely aggressive" dog running loose in the street. Estelle found a frightened young dog trying to protect himself. Over the years the real Terry came out: loyal, protective and deeply bonded to the people he trusts.

Vaccinated · dewormed · microchipped · sterilised

Perfect home: An experienced, patient home with structure. Proper introductions first.

Adopt Terry

BB (Black Beauty), black Pitbull looking for a home at Underdogs SA

Female · Black Ready for a home

Found starving outside a factory

BBClever

A factory called about a tiny black Pitbull, painfully thin, scared, with badly cropped ears. Nobody claimed her in 14 days. Today BB is active, intelligent and doing well in rehab. She loves her walks and exploring.

Sterilised · vaccinated · dewormed · microchipped

Perfect home: An active family that will not look past a black dog with cropped ears.

Adopt BB

Patches & Dean, white & black Pitbull puppies looking for a home at Underdogs SA

Male puppies · White & black Ready for a home

Twin boys, nine weeks old

Patches & DeanPlayful

Two busy, funny little characters full of puppy mischief. Adopt one, or let the brothers stay together.

Vaccinated · dewormed · sterilisation paid by UDSA

Perfect home: A family with time for puppy training. Sterilisation at six months is in the contract, and Underdogs pays for it.

Adopt Patches or Dean

Rocky, brown & white Pitbull looking for a home at Underdogs SA

Male · Brown & white Coming soon

His whole life was a chain behind a shack

RockyGentle

Rocky grew up chained behind a shack in a squatter camp and was attacked several times while still a pup. Somehow he is soft, gentle and obedient. He is finishing his rehab programme and is booked for sterilisation.

Vaccinated · dewormed · in rehabilitation

Perfect home: Ready once he has recovered from his sterilisation. Join his waiting list now.

Join Rocky's waiting list

Coco, brown & white Pitbull in rehabilitation at Underdogs SA

Female · Brown & white In rehab

Off the chain, learning to trust

CocoBrave

Coco lived at the end of a chain in a cold backyard. No kennel through the winter storms, little shade in summer, and some days no food or water. She is still a very scared young girl, but every walk brings a bit more courage.

In rehabilitation · confidence and obedience training

Right now: Not ready for adoption yet. You can sponsor her rehab today. Use reference COCO.

Sponsor Coco

New faces every month.

Dogs arrive at the centre all the time, and we post them on Facebook first. Follow us to meet them before anyone else.

Follow Underdogs SA

Apply to adopt

Happening now

Help us this month.

Rescue never goes on holiday. The dogs still need to eat, the kennels still need cleaning and the vet bills keep coming.

Fundraiser · R100 a ticket

Win a sunrise balloon flight for two.

Float over Hartbeespoort at sunrise with someone you love. The flight is worth R6,500. Every ticket buys food for the holidays, when our food supplier closes, and helps pay this year's vet bills.

EFT R100 per ticket to FNB 62407434977
Reference: Cell number / Name / Balloon
WhatsApp your proof of payment to Estelle or Nikita

Draw 19 November 2026Winner drawn 19 November 2026. Flight on 21 November 2026.

Buy a ticket Send proof of payment

Urgent appeal

240 metres of fencing

We have space for a large new camp where the dogs can run, play and keep up their rehab while they wait for homes. To use it safely we need galvanised diamond or welded mesh, plus poles and droppers.

Donate materials, sponsor a few metres or quote us an NPO price. 18A tax certificates for qualifying donations.

See what we need

Microchip drive

R100 a pet, at your home

Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and reptiles. Every pet gets a microchip certificate to frame. Travel costs are extra. Chips are how lost pets find their way home.

Book a microchip

Four ways to help

You do not need a yard to save a Pitbull.

Adopt one, feed one, walk one, or help us build the kennels the next ones will need.

Adopt

Give a rehabilitated Pitbull a forever home. All vet work is done before they go.

Meet the dogs

Donate

EFT, a debit order from R100 a month, or an R15 SMS. 18A certificates for qualifying gifts.

Ways to give

Volunteer

Walks, feeding, grooming, playpen time and the agility course. Weekdays and Saturdays.

Join the crew

Build

First 240 m of fencing for a new camp. Then 24 kennels, a vet room, toilets and safe parking.

Fencing & building

Life at Underdogs

Mud, water, zoomies and a lot of love.

Real days at the centre. Keep scrolling.

Lola: Beat mange, now pure speed — **Lola**Beat mange, now pure speed

Estelle & the crew: Founder, since 2011 — **Estelle & the crew**Founder, since 2011

Mateo: Fetch is life — **Mateo**Fetch is life

Love wins: Every dog, every day — **Love wins**Every dog, every day

Pool day: Summer at the centre — **Pool day**Summer at the centre

Nala: Zoomies specialist — **Nala**Zoomies specialist

Agility camp: Building confidence — **Agility camp**Building confidence

Kaya: Off the chain for good — **Kaya**Off the chain for good

Puppy love: Don't shop, adopt — **Puppy love**Don't shop, adopt

Every photo here started as a rescue.

Read their stories

Estelle Smith, founder of Underdogs SA, with two rescued Pitbulls

Founded by Estelle Smith

One woman said "not these dogs" and never stopped.

Estelle started Underdogs in December 2011 to give South Africa's most misunderstood dogs a second chance. She still leads the centre today, with our vet Dr Rosalie Steyn and a team of staff and volunteers.

A Voice for the Voiceless.

Read our story

The UDSA building project

We have outgrown our own kennels.

After more than a decade of rescues, the centre still lacks the basics. Right now the most urgent job is fencing a new camp so the dogs have room to run.

See the full plan

What we need to buildUDSA facility upgrade

240 m fencing for a new campUrgent

24 new kennelsNeeded

Medical examination roomNeeded

Reception areaNeeded

Toilets for staff, volunteers & visitorsNeeded

Secure parkingNeeded

Sponsor
a
kennel

Happy endings

This is why we never give up.

Two of the stories behind the hundreds of Pitbulls we have rehomed since 2011.

12years

Adopted in 2014

Cooper

Cooper was two years old when Maria and Eddie took him home in 2014. They gave him more than twelve years of love, right up to the day cancer made his body too tired to fight.

When we entrusted this special rescue boy into your care, our greatest hope was that he would be loved, protected and treasured for the rest of his life. You fulfilled that promise.

2killers beaten

Adopted in 2026

Zoey

Zoey arrived with tick fever and parvo. The vet bill was heading for R8,000 to R10,000, and giving up was never an option. Her two brothers did not make it. Zoey did. She recovered, was sterilised and went home with a family who chose her.

From hospital beds and heartbreak to warm cuddles and a forever home.

Spread the word

Adopted from us? Tell people.

A recommendation from a happy adopter does more for a Pitbull's image than anything we can say.

Recommend us on FacebookShare your adoption story and help the next dog get chosen.

What does the adoption fee cover?

The adoption fee covers vaccinations, deworming, microchipping and sterilisation. We confirm the current fee when you apply. Payment must reflect in our bank account before your dog goes home.

Are your Pitbulls safe with children?

Every dog is assessed before adoption, and we tell you honestly where a dog will thrive. Some dogs, like Terry, need an experienced home. Tell us about your family and we will help you find the right match.

Do you do home checks?

Yes. We do strict home checks before and after adoption. Your dog must live inside your home, may never be chained and must wear a collar or harness with an ID tag.

What if I adopt a puppy?

Puppies go home vaccinated and dewormed. Sterilisation at six months is part of the adoption contract, and for our current puppies Underdogs pays for it.

Be their person

The chain is gone. Now they need you.

Adopt, donate or come walk a dog this Saturday.

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