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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

This Pen Farthing guy

999 replies

TheGenealogist · 25/08/2021 10:54

The bloke with the animal shelter in Kabul.

Refusing to leave unless he can take ALL of his 60 odd staff and ALL of his 200+ cats and dogs with him. Hmm Expecting the government to make special rules for him and his friends.

Getting people out - understandable. The Taliban aren't going to look kindly on people who have translated for the military, or "collaborated" in other ways. But staff at an animal shelter?

And as for the refusing to leave without the animals and making this all out to be the UK government's fault? For not falling over themselves to arrange transport for a bunch of ownerless animals nobody wants when there are human beings in fear of their lives?

What is this guy playing at?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
deliciouschilli · 25/08/2021 13:35

He's been told to get to the airport asap. He needs to get off social media and get his workers and their families to the airport and get in the queue (they are incredibly lucky to have visas). There's no special convoy coming to get them as they would have to drive over the people at the gates. They won't risk soldiers lives for dogs and cats. Pen needs to restrain his ego and save his staff while he still can.

ancientgran · 25/08/2021 13:36

[quote Doodlebug71]**@ancientgran: If he can plan how to get his people and animals into the airport without support it is a shame he hasn't been operating a programme to help the people who are at most risk. We could rename him The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Just think how he could have helped some of those desperate women trying to hand their babies to strangers.

He's running an animal sanctuary, and trying to keep the Taliban away from his staff. The fact that he has a plan doesn't mean he can put that plan into action every day. I'm guessing it will take hours, and considerable effort to get to the airport, which is why he was aiming to get there well before his plane. He's already going to take as many people as are allowed to leave.[/quote]
If his plan can only be used once then it should be used to get the most at risk out.

TheAstronaut · 25/08/2021 13:36

Anyway OP, enjoy the attention you’re getting. Pen, Nowzad staff and the animals are coming here whether you like it or not. Lots of lovely dogs and cats, bloody brilliant.

bunnybuggs · 25/08/2021 13:38

@nicegerbil
Someone says people can't go in the hold animals can. If it won't kill the animals then it won't kill people. The hold could therefore be filled with children.
are you serious?

UniBallEye · 25/08/2021 13:38

God MN is a depressing revelation of how some people think....

SueSaid · 25/08/2021 13:38

'The evacuation should have been completed months ago and not left until the last minute.'

Exactly.

'They won't risk soldiers lives for dogs and cats. Pen needs to restrain his ego and save his staff while he still can.'

Totally agree.

NiceGerbil · 25/08/2021 13:38

I think the idea that it's more important to get a hold full of animals out rather than s hold full of children for example. Is s bit strange but there you go.

If animals don't die in the hold then neither will people.

A cat left to its own devices has a chance.

Human children and babies under the taleban with who knows what happening to their families etc. Not so much.

Eye opening thread. Often MN is like this. Ah well. It's known that lots of English people prefer animals to people. Said on threads here all the time.

Original poster
TheGenealogist · 25/08/2021 13:38

@TheAstronaut

Sorry, wasn't aware that it was compulsory to be an animal lover. Again. My bad

But it’s literally any excuse to tell everyone you hate dogs.

So pleased to see all the support for Pen and Nowzad on here. It’s a brilliant charity.

I don't hate dogs - that's the usual dog lover's response to anyone who isn't fussed one way or the other about their mutt. If you're not head over in heels in love with their pet, you're a "hater".

What is true is that I won't ever believe that dogs/cats are as important as people.

OP posts:
failedbyGP · 25/08/2021 13:39

By directing outrage and fury at one man, you are not looking for the cause of the humanitarian disaster and the governments who have failed to plan or deal with it properly - UK and US.
Really it is not one man's fault the country has been taken over by the Taliban, that the US and UK peacekeeping troops were withdrawn by their governments, that Western governments signed deals with the Taliban, that Western governments failed to see this humanitarian crisis coming, went on holiday when it was fully underway.
Don't be complicit in the UK government's media spin to deflect from their shambolic and inhuman handling of this.

Doodlebug71 · 25/08/2021 13:40

@TheGenealogist: I am assuming by "goady" you mean that fact that people are more important than cats and dogs?

You've missed the point on this one, and quite spectacularly. Pen is using what clout he has to rescue his staff, whilst offering places on a plane to whoever is available to take them. The animals will be in the hold, so not taking any seats.

Educated women aren't looked on too kindly by the Taliban, so he's rescuing as many as he can, whilst also offering to help others. Please confirm that you don't actually need this situation explaining to you? You can join the dots on this one yourself, can you not?

TheAstronaut · 25/08/2021 13:40

I don't hate dogs - that's the usual dog lover's response to anyone who isn't fussed one way or the other about their mutt. If you're not head over in heels in love with their pet, you're a "hater".

Advanced search... you don’t like dogs. Wink 👋

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 25/08/2021 13:41

@jasjas1973

Private funded flight, 100 spaces for afghans at the airport, loyal to his staff, wants to save his animals who would either be shot or starve to death.

Its not his fault the UK decided to abandon the Afghani's to their fate.

Good on him i say.

Exactly - I have donated to help him. Anyone who helps those poor animals has my support.
snowballer · 25/08/2021 13:41

@failedbyGP

By directing outrage and fury at one man, you are not looking for the cause of the humanitarian disaster and the governments who have failed to plan or deal with it properly - UK and US. Really it is not one man's fault the country has been taken over by the Taliban, that the US and UK peacekeeping troops were withdrawn by their governments, that Western governments signed deals with the Taliban, that Western governments failed to see this humanitarian crisis coming, went on holiday when it was fully underway. Don't be complicit in the UK government's media spin to deflect from their shambolic and inhuman handling of this.
100% this. This is classic, deflection of blame from the government to individuals. Just the same as blaming individual actions for covid spread, instead of the catastrophic government response, for example.
fromdownwest · 25/08/2021 13:43

@TheAstronaut

Anyway OP, enjoy the attention you’re getting. Pen, Nowzad staff and the animals are coming here whether you like it or not. Lots of lovely dogs and cats, bloody brilliant.
Excatly this, a plane he paid for, and saving all of his staff and innocent animals.

People complaining about ground resources being used up, clearly do not understand the current restrictions and logistics involved.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 25/08/2021 13:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

notimagain · 25/08/2021 13:43

@Saucery

He is taking up a landing slot and a take off slot to get his animals out while people die.

The. Plane. Will. Be. On. The. Tarmac. For. The. Same. Amount. Of. Time.

Fun facts about aviation…

If the airport is slot constrained for whatever reason - runway capacity -( it’s a single runway airport) , ramp capacity, ATC capacity, could be at the airport or en-route, whatever reason then if his flight takes a slot it is potentially denying another aircraft a slot…

Saucery · 25/08/2021 13:45

that is a slot that can't be used for the people who should be a priority.
Pregnant women? Women who by being educated are at risk? Women and men working with an organisation seen as the enemy by the Taliban?

Who isn’t a priority? Do tell.

AuntMargo · 25/08/2021 13:46

I am totally behind him he gets my admiration , cannot wait to see him and his animals landed

Peachee · 25/08/2021 13:46

I wish company owners and people in a position of responsibility in this country had the same passion and commitment for their staff as he has with his!!!!
This thread just shows exactly what is wrong with this country and the careless and callous nature many people possess. It’s shameful.

Furries · 25/08/2021 13:48

@TheGenealogist - don’t be daft, goady definitely doesn’t mean that! And no, you don’t have to be an animal lover.

You do make it obvious, though, that you like going on to threads about pets and posting things which I’m sure you know will file pet owners. Find it weird that you always appear somewhere on those threads with your “interesting” views.

It IS possible to care about both animals and humans. As others have pointed out, many of his staff are women. Why on earth shouldn’t he try to help both?

If people were able to go in the hold, then I’d maybe have more of an issue. Until then, I admire his stand on this. I hope that he, his staff and the animals are able to leave. As I hope that as many others as possible are able to leave.

TonytheDog · 25/08/2021 13:48

We'll aren't you a delight OP.

One man does his best to save his staff and rescue animals but to you he's a figure of hatred? Just because he's taking animals on a plane? Would it be ok if he'd chartered a plane that only took 67 people? Or, would you complain it wasn't enough people?

I'd also love to know what you're doing to help get people out of Afghanistan.

wewereliars · 25/08/2021 13:48

The Genealogist he is playing at trying to save people and animals from being killed. HTH

wewereliars · 25/08/2021 13:49

That you Pritti?

Furries · 25/08/2021 13:50

*rile not file.

Whitney168 · 25/08/2021 13:50

@TheAstronaut

There’s a few people on this thread, including OP who have stated over and over again on other threads that they don’t like dogs..or cats...or indeed any animal. Regardless of the situation, they wouldn’t be in support of helping animals.
I am an absolute animal lover - but even I think that the focus should 100% be on getting as many humans out as possible, as quickly as possible.

Heartbreaking for those who have worked with them, no doubt, and I don't underestimate that.

Swipe left for the next trending thread