Project Underdog Rescue Inc.

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Coburg, VIC
Project Underdog Rescue Inc.

We believe every animal deserves the chance to live a life full of love and happiness, even those who may be seen as different.

Project Underdog Rescue is a not for profit animal rescue charity located in Melbourne, Australia.

04/12/2025

It’s December, so it’s time to flip your PUR calendar and celebrate our beautiful boy Benji and his adoring mum, Marcelle 🩵

We’re a little late sharing this month’s story, because this one has been hard to write. A few weeks ago, sweet Benji crossed the rainbow bridge 🌈

Benji’s life was a testament to hope, resilience and pure joy. Even in the pound, his spark never dimmed. When we first met him, he was sitting quietly by the gate, patiently waiting for someone to notice him. We couldn’t take him that day, but we gave him a short walk and in just 20 minutes, with his wagging tail and happy little tap dancing feet, he stole our hearts completely. We knew we had to save him.

A few days later, with a foster home secured, we went back to bring him into safety, promising him he’d never see the inside of a pound again.

From that moment on, his life was filled with everything he deserved: walks, sniffs, treats, toys, warm bedding and most importantly, unconditional love.

While in foster care, Benji was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Sadly it wasn’t curable, and we were told he may only have 3 months to 2 years. In true Benji fashion, he made it to just shy of two year, symptom-free, smiling, and still insisting on his daily walks, even on his very last day. 🐾

His foster mum, Marcelle, knew his diagnosis but chose to adopt him at the start of this year. Her love, devotion and commitment to Benji filled our hearts with gratitude. They were soulmates, and he lived every single day knowing he was cherished 🥹

Run free, sweet Benji. You are so love 🌈

PS. Video at the end is from the day we rescued him ☀️

04/11/2025

It’s November and this month on the PUR calendar we celebrate Nancy 🩵

“She had no name and no microchip. We didn’t know her age or her story. All we knew was that she desperately needed us. Her fur was so matted she could barely walk, her skin so itchy that she couldn’t rest. Despite all of this, she had the most trusting, happy and optimistic nature about her. Walking her out of the pound in August 2024 we named her Nancy and promised we’d never let her return.

“”Nancy is very chilled with just the right amount of sass. She is a silent ninja and appears behind you or beneath your feet without any warning. She is learning how to play and getting better all the time. She came for a few weeks and quickly became a foster ‘fail’ which is the best thing that could have happened.”” - Caitlin and Josh”

📷

29/10/2025

Billy’s Update – Finding Comfort Again 🤍

Recently, Billy’s foster parents noticed he had slowed down a little - spending more time resting and showing less interest in playing with his toys. His devoted brother Tom was also especially attentive, showering him with extra cuddles and grooming, as if he knew Billy needed some extra care 🥺

After chatting with our vets, Billy has commenced a new pain relief plan - and we’re so happy to share that it’s made a real difference. He’s brighter, playing again, and back to enjoying his favourite things. Interestingly, Tom seems much more relaxed too, no longer glued to Billy’s side, as though he knows his brother is feeling more comfortable again 🐈‍⬛🐾

While Billy’s journey is still fragile, we’re grateful to see him happy and settled once more - soaking up affection and sunshine naps beside Tom 🌤️

“Billy is one of a kind. All the love and care we put into him, he returns tenfold. He’s one of the most affectionate and engaging cats I’ve ever come across. Whilst caring for him can be emotional at times, he makes it all worth it. He’s a fighter who truly loves life and watching him find joy again with Tom is everything” – Billy’s foster mum 💛

We don’t know how much longer we’ll have with Billy, but for now, he’s happy, comfortable, and surrounded by love. And every day, he and Tom still curl up together just like they always have - two brothers who simply can’t be apart 🤍

23/10/2025

A huge thank you to our amazing community 🫶

Last week, we put out a last-minute call for help in our local Good Karma Network group, asking for volunteers to assist with packing pet food for distribution to our community partners.

The response was truly heartwarming. We’re so grateful to be part of such a generous and supportive community that always shows up when it matters most.

In just under two hours, our five incredible volunteers packed 3,145 nutritious meals for pets in need and most of these have already made their way to hungry pups and cats across our network 🐾

Our pet pantry continues to grow, but so does the demand. We’re topping up supplies every week, often purchasing food whenever we find good sales to keep up with the need.

If you’d like to support our pantry, we’re always in need of sealed, in-date dry dog and cat food. To arrange a drop-off, please reach out at [email protected].

Together, we’re making sure no pet goes hungry 🩵

22/10/2025

We are so pleased to share that our very last foster dog, Birdie, was adopted by her doting foster carers a few weeks ago 💛🥹

Birdie came into our care at the beginning of August, after her previous family was no longer able to care for her. At only 7 months old this was a big change for Birdie, but her foster carers did everything they could to make the transition as smooth as possible - providing a safe space for her to decompress, gradually building up alone time, and giving lots of varied enrichment opportunities (including a special digging pit!) 🐾 And through all their hard work, Birdie’s personality started to shine 🥹

It’s no wonder that they fell in love with beautiful Birdie and decided to officially become her forever pawrents 🥰

They shared:

“Birdie is a sweet beautiful girl, and balances out the moments of golden retriever puppy chaos with her lovely nature. We adore the wonderful cuddles she gives us, and appreciate how enthusiastic she is about learning new things. Thanks PUR for all the wonderful fostering opportunities (20 fosters) we’ve had with you and all the support you’ve given us, and thanks for our first foster fail!”

Congratulations Birdie 🫶 🎉

(We still have beloved palliative foster cat, Billy, in our care. Although our rescue and rehoming program has now closed, our commitment to Billy, and to his wonderful foster parents, remains unchanged. He will continue to receive all the love, care, and support he needs for as long as he chooses to stay with us. And for now, Billy shows no signs of wanting to go anywhere!)

21/10/2025

Like many small rescue organisations across the country, we have faced immense challenges over the past few years. We have grappled with a critical shortage of reliable foster carers and adoptive homes, a decline in skilled volunteers, and record lows in donations from both individuals and businesses.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been fighting battles that have taken a heavy financial and emotional toll. We’re currently facing a proposed rent increase of nearly 30% from our landlord, a cost we simply cannot justify, let alone afford. At the same time, we’ve lost a significant stream of fundraising income as we’ve been unable to continue to compete against corporate giants with pricing in our online shop and vet service.

Throughout all of this, we’ve resisted turning to our community for help because we know firsthand how tough things are right now for so many pet parents. But these compounding pressures have made it impossible to continue as we have been.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to deliver the gold-standard care and support we believe every animal deserves.

After much reflection and with heavy hearts, we are announcing the immediate, indefinite closure of our animal rescue and rehoming program.

We are deeply aware that the need for rescue is growing. However, we are no longer in a position to respond to that need in the way we once could and to the standard we hold ourselves to.

Rescue and rehoming was the foundation on which Project Underdog Rescue was built. But over the years, we have grown and evolved, developing innovative programs and services aimed at addressing the root causes of animal surrender rather than simply applying a temporary fix.

Two of the most common reasons animals end up in shelters or face euthanasia are behaviour challenges and financial hardship. With this in mind, we will now focus our efforts on preventative programs that support animals staying with the families who love them.

This new direction will lean into our existing outreach programs and specialised strengths, including our in-house veterinary behaviour expertise and established Fear Free mobile clinic, which allows us to provide a dedicated service that no other animal welfare organisation currently offers.

We will continue to expand our free community pet pantry. Having already welcomed 6 new food relief organisations, we plan to increase both the supply and frequency of our deliveries, while continuing to welcome new partners into our network.

While we are saddened to be ending our rescue and rehoming program, we are hopeful and energised by this new approach. We believe it allows us to make a more sustainable, long-term impact on the welfare of companion animals in our community.

Thank you for standing by us and believing in our mission. We look forward to continuing this work differently, but just as passionately.

With love and gratitude,
The PUR Team
Project Underdog Rescue 🩵

15/10/2025

We love visiting our community partner 💙

Volunteers Bianca and Hannah stopped by with a delivery from our Pet Pantry to help stock their shelves with pet food 📦🐾

We often hear from our community partners that pet food is one of the first things their clients ask about. We never want anyone to have to choose between feeding themselves and their pets, so we’re grateful to be able to provide essential supplies to help make sure they don’t have to 🫶

07/10/2025

In case you’re as slow as us (🙈), it’s well and truly time to flip over your PUR calendar to October where we celebrate Bambi & Bow 🐱 🐱

In March 2024, while collecting two other cats from the pound, we spotted a tiny kitten in a cage staring up at us—Bambi. She compelled us to rescue her that day. After treatment for multiple parasites and infections, Bambi was adopted. Three months later, her adoptive parents reached out, ready to welcome a second kitten. We happily matched them with Bow, another orphan kitten we had rescued.

“From the first day tiny Bambi joined us, she was the most confident and affectionate kitten. Despite her size she had a cheeky streak and was so full of energy that we had to get her a friend. Bow was shy at first, but within a week she had proven to be Bambi’s perfect match. Bowie has the sweetest sleeping face, the cutest trill, and wants constant pats. Our lives are so much fuller with Bambi and Bow, they bring so much love and fun to our home, they were meant for us.”

📸

04/09/2025

✨ Little Birdy Update ✨

Two weeks ago, our golden girl Birdy went in for her des*xing procedure and we’re so happy to report she’s recovered beautifully 🤩

Because Birdy is a large breed and a bouncy puppy, we opted for a laparoscopic (keyhole) spay. While this technique is a little more expensive, it’s far less painful, has a quicker recovery time, and reduces the risk of wound complications.

Huge thanks to Dr Vincent and the wonderful team at East Melbourne for taking such great care of her 😍👏

While Birdy was under anaesthetic, her hips were also checked and X-rayed. Golden Retrievers are more prone to hip dysplasia, and Birdy’s results did confirm mild changes. The good news is that it’s manageable and surgery shouldn’t be required. She’ll now start on joint supplements to keep her comfy and supported 🐾💊

Her little keyhole wounds have healed up beautifully, and she’s almost ready to start her next big adventure… adoption! Pending one final vet check next week, Birdy will be officially ready for her forever family 🏡🥹

03/09/2025

We’re overjoyed to share that Cherry has found her forever home! 🍒❤️

Cherry’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. At 12 years old, she was surrendered to the pound and heartbreakingly marked for euthanasia. Diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure, Cherry’s future looked uncertain - but we knew her story wasn’t meant to end there. With the help of our community, Cherry received the medical care she needed, including radioactive iodine treatment, and blossomed into the sweet, affectionate, playful companion we always knew she was.

After months in foster care, Cherry finally got the happy ending she deserves - a loving forever family who adores her! 🏡🐾

Her new family shared:

“It’s so good to have an animal in the home again, and we’ve loved watching Cherry grow in confidence and make herself at home during these last few weeks.” 💕

Cherry’s resilience, charm, and cuddly nature won their hearts, and now she’ll spend her golden years soaking up sunbeams, making biscuits, and enjoying endless snuggles.

Congratulations Cherry - you’re home! 🧡

01/09/2025

It’s the first day of Spring and that means it’s time to flip over your PUR calendar and join us as we celebrate Woody and his adopters 🩵

Woody was just a few months old when he was dumped on the freeway, left terrified and alone. For weeks, he ran up and down the road, avoiding capture and retreating to the safety of shrubs. Weakened, he eventually ventured out and cried for help, terrified of humans and curled up in despair he was picked up by a good samaritan and transferred into our care.

“Woody our little goofball is the embodiment of limitless energy. He is ready for fun, food or walkies from the second he wakes up. We love his big, cheesy smile and how he keeps us on our toes. He’s made our house into a home, always there through sad and happy times, our little shadow is never far behind us. From torn up toys or slippers, to puddles of drool we wouldn’t change a thing.”

From a scared pup on the freeway to the heart of his family’s home, his story is a powerful reminder of what patience, compassion and a second chance can do. Here’s to many more Spring days filled with walkies, snacks, and that big cheesy grin 🌿🐾

28/08/2025

We recently stopped by our incredible community partner Nourishing Neighbours with a special delivery of pet food 🚐🐾📦

This pet food will help support members of the community doing it tough to feed their beloved companions 🐶🐱

Thank you to our veterinary wholesale, Cenvet, for their generous donation of supplies 🙌

Want to make a difference too? Our Pet Pantry is always in need of support. If you'd like to donate supplies to help pets in the community, please head to our website 👆

Address

PO BOX 250
Coburg, VIC
3058

Website

http://www.projectunderdogrescue.org.au/

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Our Story

Project Underdog Rescue is a not for profit animal rescue charity located in Melbourne, Australia. Our organisation is run entirely by unpaid volunteers who are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and successfully rehoming companion animals facing imminent euthanasia in pounds and shelters. We do not discriminate on breed, age or s*x. We take those that need us most. We pride ourselves on providing our animals with the same amount of love, attention and level of care we would give our own pets. Any specialised treatment recommended by our veterinarian will be provided to the animals in our care. We are based in Melbourne and are run via a network of foster carers. We do not have a shelter as we prefer to have our animals in loving foster homes. This allows them greater interaction with people and can encourage healthy socialisation with other domestic pets. It also gives us the chance to learn about each animals personality and provide him or her with any necessary training. We believe this gives our animals the best chance at a smooth transition into their forever home. We are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission and have Deductible Gift Recipient status (DGR). This means that all donations over $2 are tax deductible. We are run entirely by unpaid volunteers and receive no government funding so your donations are what we rely on. Our Mission: Rescuing, rehabilitating and successfully rehoming companion animals in need. Our Vision: For there to one day be a world where there are no more homeless pets. Our Values: Kindness: To demonstrate compassion for all living creatures and treat those how we wish to be treated. Respect: To communicate honestly and courteously in all our dealings. Integrity: To be fair and ethical in all our dealings. Leadership: To lead by example. Transparency: To be open and honest in all our dealings. Authenticity: To do what we say we do. Our Purpose: - To provide refuge for stray, abandoned and surrendered animals – primarily those facing imminent euthanasia in shelters and pounds. - To rehabilitate each animal in foster care and find them loving, safe and permanent homes. - To promote responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and no kill solutions.