Underdog International, London (2026)

30/05/2026

WELCOME HOME • This time last week, eight Underdogs were preparing to start their journey from Cyprus to the UK to meet their new families. Due to a change in flight availability, their departure came a week earlier than planned which was great for their adopters, but meant we had a few less dogs flying than we hoped, as we lost a week of time to prepare, promote and pair families with new dogs. So, let’s manifest lots more dogs travelling next month!
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Our newest arrivals include our adorable boys Arthur and Angus, who were found within a day of one another and formed a very sweet friendship after arriving in the shelter and being shunned by all their new kennel mates despite being the most darling boys ever. We also have little Rango, a very clever puppy brimming with personality, Lonzo, a silly, soft boy with a heart of pure gold, and Remi, an English Pointer who unfortunately lost part of his ear in the shelter after being bullied by other dogs. And lastly, eight year old Lucky who endured an eight month wait in the shelter, our sweet girl Brenda who’s waited even longer at close to a year for her ticket out of Cyprus, and we also collaboratively supported Spaniel Assist to bring Tima to the UK for his onward rehoming to a lovely new family.
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Once again a big thank you goes to everyone involved in the logistical gymnastics of organising these flights, our lovely vets, shelter partners, adopters and fosters, and also our home checkers who make themselves as available as possible to help us get dogs home. We couldn’t do any of this without you 🫶🏼
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29/05/2026

CYPRUS VOLUNTEER TRIP 🇨🇾 What a wonderful trip we’ve had in Cyprus! A team of ten strong, like-minded women with a love of dogs and a passion to help make the world a kinder place - we have loved spending the last few days getting to know you and showing you the island.
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We organise these volunteer trips to give people insight, education and understanding of the stray dog problem around the world. We meet amazing people on the ground, and hundreds of wonderful dogs, and of course we make new friends! Our final briefing was a chance for everyone to share what they had learned during their time with us, and we were really moved that this trip had made such an impact.
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💛Flora: I want to help more, but I’ve realised I don’t need to be the person on the ground to make a difference.
🧡Laura: I want to foster because it creates space for another dog to be saved.
🩷Eve: People can leave inspired to help without needing to see the very worst.
💚Becky: I hadn’t realised how many shelters there are, or how differently they all operate.
🩵Jo: I’m learning to stop trying to rescue every dog emotionally and ask what each dog actually needs.
💙Sarah: I can build a life that includes both career and purpose.
💜Natasha: I found meaning in helping the shut-down dogs who need quiet, patient presence.
❤️Annie: This confirmed that rescue and dog welfare is the direction I want to move towards.
🤍Lindsay: I came in thinking like an adopter, but I’m leaving thinking more like someone who understands welfare.
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Thank you all for joining us and having such a drive to help make a change. You have all been amazing, and we have been so proud to have you representing the Underdog team.
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27/05/2026

Meet one of our beautiful, newly qualified therapy dogs Tilly, who along with her Mum Debra completed her therapy dog training here at and passed her in person assessment with flying colours. She has already started her sessions and is loving meeting all the young people there. Here’s her introduction:
My name is Tilly and I am a four year old Cavapoo. I am a social, caring character and I love all humans and other dogs. I have lived in a busy household, so I look forward to interacting with many different children in the volunteer youth group setting. I am expecting to be read to, do some tricks, and mum will teach basic doggy care. I will start at the beginning of the session being sat quietly, where the children can see to encourage them to sit and listen to instruction. l will be working with both primary school to early secondary school ages, and I am very excited!
If you are interested in training your dog to be a therapy dog please fill in our application form here: https://www.theunderdog.org/become-a-therapy-dog
Check us out here: https://www.theunderdog.org/dogs-in-schools
We really look forward to hearing from you!

26/05/2026

Yesterday we enjoyed a lovely trip to and were welcomed in by the fantastic Doris and Gina, who explained to the volunteers about the importance of education alongside rescuing and rehoming. The immediacy of helping dogs on the streets is of course of vital importance in a country like Cyprus, where animal welfare laws are lax and rarely implemented, but the significance of educating the next generation is something that cannot be overstated.
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2nd Chance have spent years working on the structure of their shelter, training their team and improving their processes, learning from the successes of Dogs Trust in the UK. In fact their relationship is so strong that 2nd Chance have even taught them a thing or two! Their commitment to building the best environment they can for their dogs is commendable, and is far better than many UK shelters and kennels.
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The volunteers spent time learning about the importance of cognitive, training, social, emotional and biological needs of the dogs in the shelter, and how to improve their welfare in a setting where there are often limited resources. It was a hugely insightful day for the team and such a great opportunity to see such a unique shelter and share ideas about educating the next generation. Thank you for having us! 🥰
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23/05/2026

The incredible Sunshine has been named School Dog of the Year!

It may be hard for some to believe that this amazing dog was once a scared little street dog in Cyprus, at risk of being euthanised after ending up in the pound. Laura met Sunshine while volunteering there and knew she couldn’t leave without her. Sunshine trained and qualified as an accredited therapy dog in 2022 with the Underdog International therapy dog programme, and hasn’t looked back since!

Fast forward to today, and Sunshine is changing children’s lives at Octavia House School. Her impact on attendance, confidence and wellbeing has been noticed and some children come into school because they know Sunshine will be there waiting for them. Others find comfort, calm and connection through spending time with her. She has become such an important part of the school community.

Sunshine’s story is also a reminder of just how important it is to rescue, and how powerful the relationship between children and animals can be. The right therapy dog can help children feel safe, understood and more able to engage with school and the people around them. If you have a dog you think could change lives, please get in touch and we can let you know more about our programme!

Congratulations to Laura and Sunshine on this very deserved award. We are so proud to have them as part of our community 🐾🧡

22/05/2026

We have some very sad news…two weeks ago, one of our amazing therapy dogs, Mr Darcey, passed away. In complete opposition to his breed name ‘Springer’ Spaniel, Mr Darcey was the calmest dog ever. He had a very special magic about him; when he was around you, you felt it, that quiet, comforting presence, that sense of peace. His favourite thing to do was to put his head between your knees to stroke him, his way of saying, ‘I trust you and I’m here for you.’ This was affectionately known as the ‘Darcey cuddle.’ A natural therapy dog, Mr Darcey helped so many children to overcome their worries and to feel happier and more confident in themselves; he truly was one of a kind. His mum, Felicity; his brother, Thistle and his sister, Pudding will miss him so very much, as will we here at Underdog. Mr Darcey, you truly were a very special dog. Thank you for all the joy and smiles you brought in your role as a therapy dog – you will never be forgotten 🧡🐾

27/04/2026

ADOPT IVAN 🇬🇧 Our sweet boy Ivan is having a tough time in a busy environment and is therefore looking for a new home. The outer city is proving very overwhelming for him, and alongside the arrival of a newborn, his family just don’t feel they have the capacity to give him the attention and training he deserves. Ivan is just over a year old and is currently in Chislehurst (BR7).
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Ivan is looking for a semi-rural home where he has more space, a nice garden to run about in, and a family who understands hounds. In true hound fashion, Ivan is incredibly affectionate with his family, loves a snuggle on the sofa, and is happiest when chasing after a ball. He’s an energetic boy and needs an active home, but he also responds well to mental stimulation and enrichment with his food, such as stuffed kongs and scatter feeding. He’s extremely food motivated, which helps with training!
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Ivan’s main struggles right now relate to reactivity and anxiety. Before leaving the shelter and in his initial UK foster home, Ivan was brilliant with other dogs and socialised with males and females of a variety of ages. Unfortunately this hasn’t been the case since being adopted, and he is now selective with other dogs. It is possible that in a calmer environment this may improve, and he has had a good relationship with mature female dogs.
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Ivan is looking for a family that can give him the time, patience and training to settle in at his own pace. We feel a change of environment will really be integral in supporting his onward progress, and we won’t be considering urban homes given his struggles in London. We know how loving, sweet natured and friendly he can be and we’re looking for a home where he can enjoy lots of adventures, a calm home atmosphere, and has the attention and understanding of a more experienced adopter.
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For more information please email [email protected] 💌
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26/04/2026

Do you have a friendly, well behaved dog who loves children, and an hour to spare every week/fortnight? We are looking for more Therapy Dog Volunteers to undertake their training with us here at Underdog International and make a difference to children's lives.
Please take a look at our website and get in touch if you would like to hear more about our Therapy Dog Programme : https://www.theunderdog.org/dogs-in-schools
Or email: [email protected] for more information 😊

24/04/2026

ADOPT TARA • Tara arrived at the shelter in Cyprus with the dog warden after being found wandering, with no collar, no microchip, and not spayed. She’s only a young dog at roughly 18 months old, and it seems she may already have had a litter. Obviously, we fell in love with her right away.
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Tara is a beautiful, expressive girl with ears that flip from 100% (bat) to 0% (seal), and she has the most charming head tilt when she is trying to understand something new. She is eager to please, and responds really well to positive reinforcement training with treats as the reward, although she prefers a smelly, meatier treat than the standard biscuit - she may be a street dog but she is a street dog with taste nevertheless!
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Tara is friendly and gentle, gets on well with other dogs, and currently shares her space with other shelter pups happily. She could live with a calm companion or as the only dog, as long as she has plenty of human company. She is patient and kind with children and has been a lovely girl when meeting them.
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Tara is still working on her lead training but is already making great progress, and as she’s so intelligent we don’t think it’ll take her long to pick up new things at all. She would suit a quieter home outside the city, ideally with a garden and a relatively active lifestyle. She is sociable, trusting, and enjoys being around people, and she has so much potential to grow into a wonderful companion. She’d be a great addition a family household, or a young couple looking for a best friend to join them on their adventures.
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For more information, please email [email protected] 💌
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Underdog International

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