A Marine veteran who runs an animal shelter in Kabul refuses to escape the country without his loyal staff and animals.
52-year-old Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing is an ex-Royal Marine who has saved more than 1,700 dogs in Afghanistan after first rescuing an injured pup that was used in dog fights 15 years ago.
For years, the dedicated veteran remained in Kabul where he’s been running his shelter, Nowzad, with the help of his 68 local staff members.
While Paul ensured that his wife, Kaisa, was safely evacuated after the Taliban descended on the capital, he chose to remain behind to help his staff and animals.
“Kaisa is on her way home! BUT this aircraft is empty… scandalous as thousands wait outside #Kabul airport being crushed as they cannot get in. Sadly people will be left behind when this mission is over as we CANNOT get it right,” the veteran tweeted after his wife was evacuated from Kabul on a nearly empty plane.
According to the reports, Paul is now in talks with the UK government in an attempt to get them to evacuate his staff and animals as well.
As Paul’s mother has since explained, the veteran with a heart of gold will likely never leave his beloved rescue dogs behind.
“I haven’t been able to speak much with Pen but he tells me the Government is supposedly processing the paperwork to evacuate the staff, which is his priority,” Paul’s mom, Marilyn, said, Gazette & Essex County Standard reported.
“He wants to get the animals to the airport too but moving three trucks full of animals through Taliban-controlled roads is near-on impossible. I really don’t know what he will do if he can’t get them there. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t just walk away and leave them. To dedicate his life to the animals and then have to leave would be heartbreaking. The charity has made such a difference out there; people are now desperately trying to help.”
The heartbroken mother added:
“His brother and I are so grateful for all the support that has poured in for him, from here and from across the world.
“These supporters have pushed the Government to help us and we can’t thank them enough.”
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