Fraud-hit Shropshire dog charity struggling to survive
A fraudster who conned a Shropshire charity has been jailed – but the dog rescue centre is still struggling to stay open.
.
The co-owner of the rescue centre, Jutta Patterson, passed away shortly after being conned following a battle with cancer, with the trustees of the dog home in part blaming the stress of the ordeal for her decline.
Trustee Wendy Watts said if the rescue centre has to close the dogs will have to go to other homes "or the unthinkable".
She said: "They've been sentenced, but it is not going to bring Jutta Patterson back. Terry is on his own now – the stress brought on her illness.
"We're still left struggling to keep the rescue going. How we got through it I don't know, but we have by some miracle. We live on a week to week basis.
"Months are coming up where there's really no fundraising events. We hold our breath and hope we can get through it.
Lucky
"We get all the money from donations and fundraising activities. Every weekend throughout the summer we go to different events trying to raise money, anything from £40 to £200 if we're lucky and have been there all weekend.
"When the fundraising events stop we've got nothing. We need to raise about £6,000 or £7,000 a month. At any time we've got at least 22 or 23 dogs. Last winter the heating broke down, if that happened this winter we'd be stuck.
"It would be a big stress off our shoulders if we didn't have to worry about money so much."
Jonathan Rivers, managing director of Wyvern Media, was the head of multi-million pound fraud involving the mis-selling of advertising space to companies across the UK and Europe – among them Birch Hill Dog Rescue Centre.
Rivers, 55, of Dingle Lane, Coleshill, Birmingham, admitted one count of fraudulent trading and was given a six-year sentence with a 10-year ban on being a director at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.
Four of his co-directors also received custodial sentences.
Mrs Watts said the past two months the rescue has had vet bills of more than £1,000.
She said: "The dogs don't want for anything. We want to keep Jutta Patterson's memory alive. The pressure is on all the time, though."
Mrs Watts said if anyone wants more information or to donate they can call 01299 270406 or visit birchhilldogrescue.org.uk
