PEN FARTHING AND HIS ANIMAL WELFARE CHARITY NOWZAD URGENTLY NEED OUR HELP!

The Nowzad charity was formed in 2007 after Royal Marine Commando Sergeant Pen Farthing took matters into his own hands.  He stopped an organised dog fight that was taking place within his unit’s remote operating base in Nowzad, a small town in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Rescuing one particular dog which he named Nowzad from this fight was the inspiration for the charity.  

Like Pen, often when brave men and women are serving in a war zone they find themselves adopting one of the many stray dogs or cats that are struggling to survive there. Nowzad arrange for their beloved adopted animal to safely get to their clinic, where they provide them with shelter and care, and prepare them for their journey to their new country and home. To date they have helped soldiers rescue over 1,200 companion animals from war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Libya and relocate them to USA, UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Jordan Thailand and South Africa.

Nowzad operated the first-ever animal shelter and clinic in Afghanistan and proudly employed three female Afghan nationals who were the first to have qualified as veterinarians. The charity is determined to humanely reduce the stray dog and cat population, to fight the spread of rabies and to improve the general welfare of animals. They do this either through their Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return Scheme (TNVR) or their lifetime care or adoption programme, for those dogs who can no longer survive on the streets. All of this is provided by dedicated employees and volunteers working at the clinic and shelter, as well as those in the mobile unit who provide veterinary care to animals in migrant settlements in the vicinity. Through this community work Nowzad recognised a greater need and increased the variety of animals in their care. They also operate the first donkey sanctuary in Afghanistan where they care for eight donkeys, as well as other working animals including a cow and horses.  

BUT THEY URGENTLY NEED OUR HELP RIGHT NOW

On April 13th 2021 United States President Biden announced that the US will withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, completing the military exit by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that drew the United States into it’s longest war.

The Taliban have been emboldened by the lack of peace keeping troops & are gaining momentum as they continue to take control of provinces. It is only a matter of time before they take complete control of Afghanistan & begin to look to push outward.

The Taliban’s seemingly unstoppable advance across Afghanistan continued on Friday, as insurgents took control of four more provincial capitals, having on Thursday seized Kandahar and Herat, the second and third-largest cities.

With Afghan government forces in disarray, and amid reports that the vice-president has fled, the Taliban are heading inexorably towards Kabul. They control more than two-thirds of the country, just as the US plans to pull out its last remaining troops.

How We Can Help Nowzad

If you want to offer your support to the Afghan people, Nowzad and the dogs of Afghanistan the wonderful Dogs Desk News have put together a resource pack to help support Nowzad.

Donate Here To Help Repatriate Pen, His Team And The Animals

Please Sign & Share The Petition: Reverse Decision To Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan

Letter templates, email contact details, petition link & images in 3 SM sizes and a Nowzad video: Resource Pack

Pen Farthing talks to Phil Lassman of Doggy People;