st martins house - Aspire Magazine

Birch Hill Dog Rescue
www.stmartinshouse.com
Helping Dogs In Need
Despite being fondly referred to as man’s best friend, the
dogs that arrive at Shropshire’s Birch Hill Dog Rescue have
often seen the dark side of human nature, leaving the
dedicated charity to put right what man has done wrong.
Every day sees more and more dogs arriving at the centre,
but with the monthly cost of kennel and veterinary care
amounting to £6,000, Birch Hill are struggling to provide
these badly treated canines with the care they deserve.
Located in Cleobury Mortimer, Birch Hill is a devoted dog
charity, taking in any canine in need from anywhere in the
country. Sadly, the rescue centre witnesses the aftermath
of human cruelty on a daily basis, as founder, Jutta
Patterson explains: “I’ve seen some horrible sights over
the years and you would struggle to believe what some
people have done to their own dogs; we have one that was
stabbed by its owner and another whose nose was wired
shut. I feel the services we offer are one small way to put
things right and the Birch Hill Dog Rescue always aims to
be on the dog’s side and be there when they need us. We
rely on dogs for so many things – as blind dogs, sniffer
dogs and for search and rescue – so it’s about time we
repaid them.”
Dog lover Jutta, established the charity after realising how
many of our four-legged friends were finding themselves
homeless through no fault of their own. Jutta explains:
“I originally bought the kennels in 1996 and 10% of our
work was dedicated to caring for rescue dogs from other
charities. Eventually, the rescue dogs took over and in 2001
I decided to transform the kennels into a dedicated rescue
centre, before becoming a registered charity 18 months
ago. We have a non-destruction policy and we never
differentiate between breeds. We take in any dog, from
anywhere in the country, and will do whatever we can to
provide the loving home they deserve.”
In order to continue their good work however, they
desperately need your help and support; it costs £6,000
every month to care for, feed and re-home the hundreds
of dogs that find their way to Birch Hill, which is why they
would be well-deserving of your goodwill this Christmas
and throughout 2012.
For someone who adores dogs of every breed and every
age, it shocks Jutta how many people are willing to give up
their beloved pets, she says: “We have a non-destruction
policy and we never differentiate between breeds. We
take in any dog, from anywhere in the country, and will
do whatever we can to provide the loving home they
deserve. The majority of dogs come to us because of
over-breeding, particularly in the bull-type dogs, which is
sadly something that could easily be changed if owners
took more responsibility for their pets. There are, however,
many other reasons that lead to a dog ending up at Birch
Hill and all are as sad as the next; financial hardship is quite
a common one, as is neglect. For some owners, the arrival
of a new child makes them worry about how the dog will
react and for that reason they are willing to give them up,
often before they’ve even tried to introduce them. At this
time of year, we also see families who have decided to
abandon their old dogs in favour of a brand new puppy for
Christmas.”
Soaring costs of veterinary bills and dog food have made
times incredibly tough for Birch Hill, but the team are
working hard to help our four-legged friends in need. If
you want to give a dog a home or help towards their care
and kennel boarding, there are many ways you can make
a difference. You can sponsor one of Birch Hill’s loveable
dogs from just £1 a week, sign up to make a monthly
donation, leave a legacy in your Will or make a donation
on behalf of a loved one this Christmas. Alternatively, you
could donate any unwanted items, from clothes to books,
household goods to toys, to Birch Hill’s brand new charity
shop at 12 Reindeer Court, Worcester, or donate just an
hour of your time every week to take the residents for
walkies.
To make a bigger difference to the life of a dog, you could
choose to share your life with one, as Jutta explains: “We
are always looking for people who want to re-home a dog
and have many who would make the perfect companions.
Many of the dogs who are seeking new homes can be
found on our website, complete with a small biography,
photos and YouTube video.”
Firmly believing that some dogs deserve to be treated
better, Jutta is urging pet lovers to get in touch and show
their support, she adds: “I would ask people to support us
because we are trying desperately hard to put right what
man’s done wrong, but we can’t do it on our own.”
Inspired by Jutta and the Birch Hill team’s enduring
love for the animals they rescue and the lengths they
go to in order to find the homes they deserve, Aspire
recently selected the organisation for our Certificate of
Recognition for Animal Charity of the Year.
Aspire Sales Executive, Barbara Stone, nominated the
charity for the award, she said: “Jutta and Birch Hill’s
dedication is clear to see; they fight a never ending battle
to find loving owners who can give a dog the warm and
caring environment they need in which to live out their
natural days. Birch Hill Dog Rescue never discriminate
between breeds, sex or age, meaning they have to find
hundreds of homes for the dogs they take in every single
year. It’s an extremely expensive job, made tougher by
the current economic climate, so by selecting the charity
for this Certificate of Recognition, Aspire are aiming to
raise their profile and help them find the support they so
rightly deserve.”
Our Certificate of Recognition isn’t the only accolade
Birch Hill have scooped this year; in August the charity
was named top rescue facility in the West Midlands by
RescueReview.co.uk, after pet-lovers nominated Birch
Hill for the title with glowing five-star reviews.