Pen Farthing’s rescued dogs start quarantine at sanctuary in UK as war of words grows – World News
Many have spoken out about the decision to evacuate the dogs, but leave civilians behind after a huge push to get former Marine Pen and the animals out of Afghanistan
Image: Nowzad)
A war of words has broken out over the decision to evacuate rescue dogs over people in Afghanistan.
Former Marine Pen Farthing and his animals were evacuated out of the country after the Taliban took over.
The rescue dogs are now starting their quarantine in the UK as thousands are forced to live under Taliban rule after it rampaged through Afghanistan and took the country.
150 British nationals and translators and 5,000 people with a right to settle in the UK were left behind while the animals were flown out of the country.
The 200 cats and dogs have been taken to an animal sanctuary for their quarantine.
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Mr Farthing took the flight with the animals before making his way to Norway to reunite with his wife.
The Daily Mail has reported that Major James Bolter, a reservist in the Royal Logistic Corps questioned why the UK put “more effort” into rescuing the animals than those left behind.
He said he felt torn between “anger and despair.”
Ex-paratrooper, Major Andrew Fox said it was “insane” that the dogs were facilitated into an airport while British citizens and Afghan allies remained outside it.
Loozas Lurcher Rescue in Hertfordshire posted on its Facebook page about its “precious cargo” and said “every dog” had been “well looked after” by Mr Farthing.
Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary, whose staff also helped with getting the animals from Heathrow Airport to their place of quarantine posted photos of the dogs being cared for.
It is feared that the number of people left in Afghanistan is higher than the 5,000 given.
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Dominic Dyer, an animal rights campaigner and friend of Pen Farthing, claimed Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State of Defence acted “disgracefully” towards the ex-Royal Marine after he denied allegations that he had “blocked” a private flight to rescue the cats and dogs.
Mr Wallace initially said he would not prioritise “pets over people” but later allowed the charter plan to land at Kabul to pick up the animals and Mr Farthing.
However, Mr Farthing told Good Morning Britain that “nobody in the British government facilitated my entry into that [Kabul] airport – I did that with the Taliban.”
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He also told how five cats died of shock on their way to the airport.
UK law requires that the dogs will have to stay in isolation in kennels for up to six months, depending on when they had their rabies vaccine. If any of the dogs are found to have any diseases, there is a chance they will be put down.
Mr Dyer told GB News: “The fact is that we had to put dogs on an airplane without people is a question that we should be asking. How did we get to that point? That plane was sat on that runway, we were in contact with Dominic Raab’s office, and we were begging him to let someone get on that plane.
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“You know the response we were getting? ‘We don’t have anyone in this airport we can put on that plane, we have more air capacity than people. But over on the other wall we have hundreds, thousands of people in sewage waiting to get blown up by suicide bombers who have been there for days with their children in the most disgusting conditions.’
“So this whole operation has been appallingly handled. What happened at the end is that Pen got access to the airport because the Taliban let him in with the dogs.”
Majhor Bolter told the Times: “Was this for worthy Afghan politicians or special forces? No, sadly and infuriatingly, this was to bring one ex-Royal Marine and his rescued cats and dogs to the UK.
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“What do I tell those people left behind when they ask me why the UK put more effort into rescuing abandoned animals than them? I have no answers. I am torn between anger and despair.”
Shelter staff are “still in their homes” in Afghanistan, Mr Dyer said. He added that the charity is in contact with them and that efforts would be made to get them out of the country.
