how it all began

DSC_3211.jpg
 

The origins of the Underdog

Back in 2015, Nadine Kayser founded the Wild at Heart Foundation with Nikki Tibbles, a charity that aims to reduce the world’s 600 million stray dog population. Since then, Wild at Heart has grown to become a leading component in the global activity working to address this issue.

Nadine was the visionary behind Wild at Heart Foundation, having created the strategic direction, fundraising mechanisms and operational processes. As CEO, she and the team delivered impressive year-on-year successes:

  • Adoption of over 1,400 dogs into loving families.

  • Neutering of over 18,000 dogs, preventing one million unwanted puppies being born into lives of suffering.

  • Educating over 20,000 children to teach understanding and awareness of how to treat dogs.

  • Raising £1 million in the first four years

After four years, working at the front line of dog rescue and neutering, Nadine wanted to focus more on the ‘human element’ of what she’d learnt over the years - how to make us all more compassionate towards animals. Having been involved in education projects across the globe - from China, Swaziland and Romania to Borneo, Greece and the UK - she realised that one extremely effective way to create meaningful and lasting change, was through interacting with children! Not only do the animals benefit, but the children hugely benefit too. It is a win win!

And so it was, that the Underdog International was conceived with the underlying concept of children helping dogs, dogs helping children. Nadine left Wild at Heart Foundation in late 2018 and by early 2019, she’d set up her second charity. Since it’s launch, Underdog International has grown rapidly. Find out more about the work we do here.