Rs underdog

From an early age, youth at risk are learning the importance of bonding with dogs through The Underdog Project.

The scent of fresh pies wafts from the animal-assisted intervention classroom on Wednesday September 6, while five pupils from Silikamva High School take Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG) shelter dogs through their paces on obstacle courses.

Facilitator Emily Smith, from Rosebank, says they have a further 15 Silikamva pupils attending on Tuesdays and Fridays. They all live in Imizamo Yethu.

The Underdog Project, located on the lower level of the large Darg property, is a nurturing classroom where at-risk youth are taught empathy, kindness and responsibility through the training of shelter dogs.