Fingers crossed for Pen Farthing and Nowzad

People out first please

People have funded the charter plane specifically to bring back Pen Farthing, his staff and the animals. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Are there any planes privately funded to bring back people, in addition to the forces planes?

There are some people saying bring back people first. I wonder how many of those are opposed to the refugees coming from France to seek sanctuary in the UK.

Whatdayisit

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

That's more than can be said of Australia who have shot dead cats and dogs in shelters in order to make the people who look after them stay at home in the lockdown.
I cried out loud when I heard this

CraftyGranny it's diabolical.

There are some people saying bring back people first. I wonder how many of those are opposed to the refugees coming from France to seek sanctuary in the UK.

I'm not sure what this has to do with the Afghan situation, but I am saying that people should get out first, and I am not at all opposed to people seeking refuge in the UK.

If the animals are in the hold, and crucially, if they can get them onto the plane in time for it to take off before the deadline so that as many people as possible can be rescued, then great, but if not, the fact that it's privately funded should not come into it.

Only so many planes will be able to leave Kabul, and the lives of the people on them should not be dependent on private funding - it should somehow be managed on a needs basis (although goodness knows how that can possibly work). A human life should not be jeopardised to save a cat or dog, though, however sad that may be for the animals.

CraftyGranny

Whatdayisit

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

That's more than can be said of Australia who have shot dead cats and dogs in shelters in order to make the people who look after them stay at home in the lockdown.
I cried out loud when I heard this

I was shocked when I read your post, Craftygranny. Most of DD's dogs over the years have been from rescue centres.

I just checked - it's not a general policy, thank goodness, but an of the lockdown rules by one Council in NSW.

The dogs were due to be rescued from an Aboriginal community and it was decided that there was a risk that Covid could be taken into the community by rescuers travelling to pick up the dogs.
It does seem to be a knee-jerk reaction.

Typo, sorry
but an interpretation of the lockdown rules by one Council in NSW.

I’ve just seen a report on Sky about the flight it seems things are not going to plan but we shall see.

Just read it on Twitter tanith.

I have no idea where in a plane the dogs and cats will go. Do they go in the hold... well Pen and his Male employees could travel in with the animals to keep them calm. The women and kids could go in seats making space for other evacuees. If he wants a temporary home for a small dog, I would have it till hes on his feet here. As would many other Brits

At least he cares about his animals and staff. Many people dont bother, and it's a me first situation at times. I do hope his staff and animals make it out. As I dearly hope the rest of the people do.

Can someone technical please explain why the (presumably pressurised) cargo hold is ok for animals but not people in this circumstance?

I just don't understand some of the comments above about it being ok to to bring animals out ahead of people if they are in the hold?

I may be being stupid here but my assumption was that animals need the same pressurised environment as people?

I'm not judging here. Just asking by the way.

No news yet ? think they are stuck outside the airport with the animals, what a dreadful situation.

Apparently the Taliban wouldn’t let his convoy through to the airport and they have been held up for 8 hrs at the last report. Sad affair for all concerned especially if he and his staff don’t get out after all because they choose to stay with the animals but it’s their choice I guess.

There is now intelligence of a possible terrorist attack at Kabul airport, people are being advised to stay away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-58279900

The world has gone to pot. I'm in despair what's the point of it all. The Taliban back in power again nothing has changed, America has left them all their military equipment, Biden is a disgrace.

Sharing this from Facebook

On the news it is being said that the Taliban are stopping Pen and his convoy from reaching the Airport.

It’s not just Biden who is awful, Johnson and Raab on holiday when it all predictably kicked off didn’t help.

There is a guy on TV news at the moment (Dominic Dyer) who will be on the Charter Plane when it leaves Luton U.K. this evening for Kabul Airport.

I admire the fact that he would not leave his Afghan workers in the lurch; but, as others have said, human beings and their belongings (such as they are) should take priority over animals for space both in the plant and the hold.

As an animal lover and someone who believes we dismiss their suffering too readily, I find myself siding with the people first camp. As others have said mothers are passing babies to soldiers.

Pen Farthing is admirable for his efforts on behalf of these dogs and cats but they won’t be suffering the fear of knowing what’s ahead like humans will.

Not Spaghetti It may be me being stupid here but I thought all these flights were on cargo planes so isn’t everything in one big space?

No room for the animals and they're just taking up space, it would seem, according to Wallace

But they managed to find space for an SUV.

Now I don't know the backstory but I can't think of any justification for evacuating a lump of metal ahead of any living being.

www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/car-airlifted-kabul-evacuation-operation-b1907777.html