Empower Youth, Transform Shelter Dogs

This year at The Underdog Project has been filled with meaningful growth, joyful milestones and powerful moments of connection between our youth and the wonderful dogs who share our space. As we strengthen our monitoring and evaluation systems, we are finally able to measure more accurately what your support has made possible since March.

Since the start of this reporting period we have hosted more than one thousand two hundred youth engagements across our weekly Youth Builder groups, Past Graduates and Peer Leaders. These sessions create safe and supportive spaces where young people can learn emotional awareness, communication skills, responsibility and confidence through their work with dogs.

Alongside them, our long term UnderDOGs and dogs from DARG have taken part in hundreds of training, enrichment and bonding interactions. On average we work with six to eight dogs each session. These include Bruno, Beanie, Lucy, Molly, Flavia and Rocky who are familiar favourites for our youth. Their calm presence and forgiving nature have allowed many young people to grow in ways that are difficult to describe but easy to see.

Youth Builder Groups Growing in Confidence

Our Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Youth Builder groups continued throughout the year with strong attendance across all three days. Each group brings its own personality and strengths but all share a common thread. A desire to learn, to be seen and to connect. For many of our youth these sessions have become an emotional anchor in their week and a trusted space where they can slow down, breathe and find their footing with the help of their canine partners.

Peer Leaders Stepping Into Their Role

Two of our long term graduates officially stepped into their roles as Peer Leaders this year. They now help facilitate activities, guide new participants and demonstrate advanced trick work. Their growth over the past four years has been extraordinary. From shy young beginners to confident young adults who now mentor others with warmth and patience. Their involvement has added new depth and energy to our programme.

Celebrating Individual Achievements

We saw several standout achievements this period. One young participant on the autism spectrum completed his first KUSA Elementary Trick Title after four months of one on one sessions. This was an enormous milestone for him and a beautiful example of how structured support combined with the unconditional acceptance of a dog can help a young person reach new levels of confidence.

We also celebrated our third group from Dominican School for the Deaf who graduated from their programme cycle. Their enthusiasm and unique ways of communicating enriched our space and allowed us to learn and grow alongside them.

Holiday Workshops and Community Moments

We hosted a holiday workshop for eight boys from a local children’s home which offered a fun and meaningful introduction to our work. Many of them had never interacted closely with dogs before. Their delight and natural kindness were a reminder of how important it is to offer these opportunities to youth who might not otherwise have access to them.

Our Youth Day Dog Show was a highlight of the year. Even in the rain our young people shone with confidence and pride as they showcased the skills they had worked so hard on with their dogs.

Through the year our community supported us with quiz nights, a one hundred lot auction and a Heritage Day Padel Tournament. These events keep our work alive and help build a sense of belonging around the project.

New Tools for Humane Education

Thanks to Hero in My Hood we received four hundred humane education activity books. These materials have been woven into our life skills sessions and have helped our youth learn about dog body language, safety around animals and advocating for animal welfare. These lessons align strongly with the core values of The Underdog Project and have enriched the way we teach empathy and responsibility.

Looking Ahead to Paws & Potential

One of the most exciting developments this year is the groundwork for our new Mobile Underdog Pilot called Paws and Potential. This model will allow us to take our programme into new locations through partnerships rather than relying entirely on a fixed classroom. It will allow us to reach more youth and more dogs who need support while keeping our costs manageable.

Our goal is to begin piloting this model next year with a small team that includes a facilitator, a counsellor and one of our Peer Leaders. This approach reflects everything we believe in. Meeting young people where they are, bringing compassionate dog assisted learning into communities and offering structure and emotional support through the healing presence of dogs.

We look forward to sharing more about this journey in the coming months.

Join Our Underdog 555 Community

As we expand our work, we are building an international community of monthly supporters who help keep our programmes stable and sustainable. The Underdog 555 campaign invites five hundred and fifty five people across the world to contribute $10 per month. This steady support would fully sustain our core work, ensure ongoing training and care for our dogs and allow us to reach every young person who walks through our doors. If you feel moved to join the 555 community, we would be deeply grateful.

With Deep Gratitude

Every moment of progress. Every breakthrough. Every quiet victory between a young person and a rescue dog. All of it has been made possible by your kindness and belief in our work.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue to change lives one young person and one dog at a time.

With love and appreciation
The Underdog Project Team