SNUGGLE.UPWORTHY.COM / NEWS

83-year-old died before court ruled on his $60,000 scam — but the dog shelter that got his money kept his memory alive in a deeply touching way

In his will, the late man wished that all of the stolen money be donated to a dog shelter that left a lasting mark on one rescue animal.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO

(L) At Home Care Giver, (R) Young woman in animal shelter. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) LPETTET, (R) mladenbalinovac)

An 83-year-old man fell victim to a $60,000 fraud just before his passing. Despite the odds stacked against him, he found a heartwarming way to use the funds after the police recovered the amount from the scammer in July 2024. In his will, the late Paul Chandler wished that all of the stolen money be donated to a dog shelter in the UK. Soon after, the rescue shelters that received the funds were filled with gratitude and paid a tribute to him with a kind gesture.

A tax form with a word scam on its face - Representative Image Source: Pexels | Leeloo The First — A tax form with a word scam on its face. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Leeloo The First)

Mr. Chandler was an elderly resident of the Rosedale House Care Home, where he was cared for by deputy manager, Nikola Penevski, 35, of Bristol. He abused his position of power at the care home and defrauded the old man by withdrawing $60,000 from his bank account, as reported by the BBC in July 2024. The manager pleaded guilty to the charges after a case was filed against him at the Bristol Crown Court and was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Unfortunately, the victim passed away before the court ruling, with no close family or relatives to collect the funds.

Elderly man with dementia confused and worried in thought. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Solstock) — Elderly man with dementia confused and worried in thought. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Solstock)

The sum was then donated to the RSPCA and Bristol Animal Rescue (BARC) to help them accommodate animals in need and continue doing their valuable work, especially considering the poor economic state of most shelters. In honor of his memory, Bristol Arc decided to name a rescue dog after the late donor. Now, a Yorkshire Terrier named Mr. Chandler is popular in the dog shelter while treasuring the legacy of the kind man. A third of the donation will be allotted to the RSPCA, and the rest two-thirds will go to BARC.

Handcuffed suspect being arrested by police at night. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images |kali9)

"We are so grateful to those like Mr. Chandler for their generosity, as well as the Financial Investigation Unit for ensuring his wishes were fulfilled,” a spokesperson for BARC told the outlet on Thursday, November 13, 2025. They further noted that Mr. Chandler’s “legacy donation” will help the thousands of animals that are cared for at the shelters. “We hope it inspires others to consider leaving a gift in their will to support animals in need." According to the Humane World for Animals, every animal shelter and rescue organizations heavily rely on donations and needs financial support to pay their bills while caring for helpless animals.

A woman sitting in front of a golden retriever kept inside a cage at an animal shelter (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Zbynek Pospisil) — A woman sitting in front of a golden retriever kept inside a cage at an animal shelter. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Zbynek Pospisil)

The source stated the scammer used the victim’s bank card to withdraw the amount between January and December 2022. The suspicious activity was later flagged by the bank and reported to the authorities, launching an investigation into the matter. Unfortunately, Mr. Chandler never got to witness the culprit admit to his crime and passed away in March 2023, two months after Penevski was arrested at Heathrow Airport after returning from a foreign trip. Avon and Somerset Police Detective Constable Daniel Britton condemned the fraudster for leeching off the vulnerable victim’s money and using his old age to personal advantage. "The victim had come to the home because he needed additional care, was particularly vulnerable, and had no support network available to him,” he said.