Fingers crossed for Pen Farthing and Nowzad

The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated.
Mahatma Ghandi.

Jabberwok

Isn't it strange how quiet the left on here are being!! Now if that had been President Trump who had failed so dismally to get any extension and completely fouled up this whole operation from start to sorry conclusion, the thread would be blue with fury and indignation, but because it's poor old P. Biden the silence is deafening. Must be very embarrassing that he's proved, well, inept is being kind.

There has been condemnation of Biden's failure on other threads. I think we are all a bit tired of churning it over. Same same different thread.
This thread is about the animals and Nowzad. getting out. I did identify as Left but seemingly not Left enough on here. I have nothing left to say about this particular whole sorry mess Jabberwok especially not on this thread.
I just hope the worst doesn't happen.

Isn't it strange how quiet the left on here are being!! Now if that had been President Trump who had failed so dismally to get any extension and completely fouled up this whole operation from start to sorry conclusion, the thread would be blue with fury and indignation, but because it's poor old P. Biden the silence is deafening. Must be very embarrassing that he's proved, well, inept is being kind.

I hope he, his staff and the animals get out safely.

I donated too Zoejory; as others have stated, he wanted to charter a plane to take him and his staff and anyone else that could, to safety. There would be no cargo, so the cargo hold would be used for the animals. So no, the animals would not be taking the place of any people. Let's hope he manages to fill any empty seats with some of those poor people who are in danger.

In this country we are desperately short of vets and therefore with upskilling I think some of his staff will have no problem finding jobs.

Everything crossed and good luck to them all.

My fingers are definitely crossed for him. I've been a supporter of Nowzad for many years now and I, along with many others, donated toward the flight.

Fact is it's a free plane, it can take the animals in the hold and they will also offer available seats to be used for refugees.

I hope that all goes well

shoppinggirl

I understand the plane he's chartered and which is being paid for by a wealthy benefactor has a 250 seat capacity. As he is flying out his 69 staff, the rest of the plane will be filled with others who need a flight out . The animals will travel in the cargo hold. He's a genuinely good person!

That's what I understood shoppinggirl also as humptydumpty said they are British citizens entitled to leave. Good luck to them all.

Farthing has previously said the animals would be transported in the aircraft’s hold and that, once his staff were accommodated, any spare seats on the plane could be filled by other people cleared for passage by UK authorities, with the flight able to take 250 passengers in total.

"Earlier, a Nowzad supporter in the UK, veterinary surgeon Dr Iain McGill, had said people were ready to take in the animals once brought to Britain.

McGill said that after the animals and the charity’s staff, the remaining 130 seats on the plane would be filled with at-risk Afghans."

It is a chartered plane, but they still need safe passage through the airport and air space. He has the attention of the media, I sincerely hope the spare seats on the plane are put to good use.

Exactly - they are using a dedicated flight, not one provided by the RAF.

Can't believe the negative comments on here! Pen Farthing is a wonderful person, doing wonderful work out there! The animals are not being rescued at the expense of people, or jumping any queues.

But he is a UK citizen and all his staff and their dependants have UK visas, so how is he jumping the queue?

"Nowzad supporters on Tuesday announced a privately chartered Airbus A330 – funded by donations – was on standby to fly to Kabul to rescue the group’s workers and animals."

How much space do 60 cats take up anyway?

AGAA4

I don't believe he or his animals are in as much danger as many of the Afghans who are desperate to leave so I feel he is jumping the queue while women and children will be left behind.

He's chartered a plane and any empty seats will be given to people who are there and want to leave.

Do people think there's a priority list where somebody ranks people according to their suitability for evacuate and they all queue up in order? He was a Marine Commando. I think the Taliban would be very interested in him if he stays behind.

I don't believe he or his animals are in as much danger as many of the Afghans who are desperate to leave so I feel he is jumping the queue while women and children will be left behind.

I completely agree shoppinggirl. I heard him on the radio recently where he said that his problem is actually getting into the airport to board the plane. Every best wishes to him (and of course to all others in similar situations).

I understand the plane he's chartered and which is being paid for by a wealthy benefactor has a 250 seat capacity. As he is flying out his 69 staff, the rest of the plane will be filled with others who need a flight out . The animals will travel in the cargo hold. He's a genuinely good person!

I read his book years ago and admired what he planned to do then but no, I just get very angry when I see him on TV now.

I like (most) dogs and wouldn't want to think of animals being hurt but I am with Doodledog on this. He should fill his chartered plane with his staff and mothers, children and babies not animals.

If the animals are in the hold all well and good but people are crammed into these aircraft without seats anyway.

I hope he makes it out safely.

I agree that if the animals are in the hold then that’s different I hope the plane is filled with people.

So long as the animals go in the hold,that is good news. Leaving them behind at the mercy of the Taliban was not an option , so it was a choice of having the animals put down or a rescue plan. Glad the plan seems to have won.

The animals aren't taking the place of humans and part of the agreement was that his staff get flown to the UK too. I have my fingers crossed

JenniferEccles

What will happen to these animals when they get here?
Aren’t animal shelters here already over-run with unwanted pets?

No doubt that has already been sorted if they have the ability and finances to charter an aeroplane The animals stand far better chance here than they would do in Afghanistan.