This Pen Farthing guy

[TheGenealogist]

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. 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?

@snowballer

I will get flamed for this, but animals are not a priority, people are and working in an animal sanctuary should not give you a ticket out of Kabul ahead of staff who have worked with the British army and who will now be in imminent danger of torture and death.

The blame for these people not getting out should be laid squarely at the door of the Home Office who had their thumbs up their arses for so long. Those eligible for relocation because of work for HMG/HM Forces have repeatedly had applications delayed/declined/not responded to for MONTHS. Time is limited. Of course those people need to be evacuated. But others do too, and they shouldn't have to suffer because of inaction by our shitty, shitty government.

Also, as an aside, the people aren't just working in an animal sanctuary. They're working for a UK registered charity, for an ex-Royal Marine, and have trained over 500 new vets, some of whom are women. Educated women, working for a UK organisation, for an ex soldier. All stuff the Taliban just loves.

This. 100%.

[quote Saucery]@ancientgran
Why are pregnant, educated women not a priority?[/quote]
The people who are at risk because they worked for our military are the top priority, we have a debt to them. Their wives and families, presumably some of them pregnant, are also a priority with them.

I don't think a pregnant educated woman is necessarily more of a priority than a pregnant uneducated woman.

All of the posters saying he's not doing the right thing, well, at least he's there doing his bit.

Any of those who disagree could have gone there and set up a charity and could be now rescuing whoever they want. But they didn't. He did.

I have family who say things like charity starts at home. But funnily enough, they won’t give to any ‘home’ charities. The truth is they just won’t help anyone but themselves.

That's what 'charity begins at home' means! Your own home! Meaning you take care of your own and your family's needs first.

As much as I am an animal lover, and I admire the work this guy has done, not just for the animals and the locals too, unfortunately, as others say, a matter of landing slots.

Only one plane can use a runway at any one time. If you had an option to get 300 people out at a time, or 600 at a time, I know what I would go for....

@FabulousIAm

This just shows the true selfishness of the human race. Why wouldn't he want to get the animals out?! Their lives are just as worthy as humans. Absolutely sick of people and their speciesism - its disgusting.

Depends on your point of view. I'd put a baby's life above an animals life.

@ancientgran

Pen Farthing's wife left on a nearly empty plane and the explanation was they were going to miss their take off slot so couldn't wait. Again that was information from inside the airport.

Given what has been going that’s very very credible and also slot limitations were genuinely more than likely the reason the infamous vehicle got flown out the other day rather than more people…

He’s doing what he can for his staff and his animals. Some horrible keyboard warrior types on this thread.
Who are we to judge what he is trying to do. I wish him the best of luck.

@FloconDeNeige

Ah, I see all the useless armchair generals are out in force, slagging off the efforts of someone trying to help both people and animals out of a desperate situation.

They’re usually the types to whinge loudly whilst simultaneously doing the square root of absolutely nothing themselves.

Quite frankly, I’d swop a dog or cat for any one of these pathetic individuals. No seriously, I would. They mean absolutely fuck all to me. They’re strangers with odious beliefs. Hell, even a hamster 🐹

I don't think the people trying to escape Afghanistan are on MN right now so your swop if pretty pointless.

@FaceForRadio1973

As much as I am an animal lover, and I admire the work this guy has done, not just for the animals and the locals too, unfortunately, as others say, a matter of landing slots.

Only one plane can use a runway at any one time. If you had an option to get 300 people out at a time, or 600 at a time, I know what I would go for....

And how many planes have you seen taking off with 600 people on board, just out of interest? One was headline worthy because it had 640 on board. That one seemed to be an exception. From what I've seen - and I'm happy to be corrected - most of the planes flying out are C17s and a load of 600 people isn't the norm.

Depends on your point of view. I'd put a baby's life above an animals life.

So would I. It’s less clear cut with adults though. I’d choose an animal over a Talib, every day of the week. I’d choose an animal over anyone involved in bacha bazi. I’d choose an animal over a fair few men, actually.

That's what 'charity begins at home' means! Your own home! Meaning you take care of your own and your family's needs first.

No, they say it in relation to helping charities abroad. Helping people with the ‘wrong’ colour skin. They tell me to I should give to British charities as they need help, use British charities needing help as their reason for not giving to others. But the reality is they give to nothing. They wouldn’t help anyone. They’re racist fuckers, I think I know my family better than you.

I don't think the people trying to escape Afghanistan are on MN right now

Oh aren’t they? Who knew!

He's getting his staff out because life under the Taliban is going to be hell for EVERYONE. He's getting the animals out become presumably they'll die otherwise.
What a monster.

don't think a pregnant educated woman is necessarily more of a priority than a pregnant uneducated woman.

Unfortunately, the Taliban have education of women as one of their priorities for being murdered. Anyone at all who has worked with Western organisations, not just the military, is at risk. Everyone who makes it onto that particular plane has a valid reason to be there. That many, many more like them will probably not make it onto a plane is a fucking travesty and the fault of the US and UK governments.

Are the planes troop carriers? Do any of the planes have holds? Asking because I’ve seen people in the troop carriers but not in normal planes.

As for all the people sitting with their "Oh yeah? Well what are YOU doing personally to address the situation!" bollocks...

I volunteer week in, week out in a charity shop for an organisation which is very much involved in Afghanistan and lots of other trouble spots. The money our shop raises is being used on the ground all over the world. Our district manager calculated that each hour a volunteer gives to the shop is worth £15 to the charity.

So 5 years, 4 hours a week... that's around £15k.

Anyway I'm out now, such a shame that people have to resort to the petty name calling and snide little "Is that you Priti" comments.

The animals all h;ave homes arranged. But on MN everyone hates dogs so we won't get too many rational comments.

Some countries have stopped flights now, as I assume they feel they have taken all their nationals, so there will be spare slots

He’s not ex SAS (there a joke about the Albert Hall balcony in there somewhere) and he wasn’t a commissioned officer.

I beg his pardon he is an ex Royal Marines Commando colour Sergeant

Can we all get some perspective and stop harassing the OP because of difference of opinions.

This is a highly complex, rapidly evolving, dangerous situation. What you see in the media is a snapshot in time, based on an individuals opinion and should be treated as such. There are no winners In this, only losers, but pointless infighting here and baseless critique of the situation on the ground only serves to detract from the horrendous situation that many find themselves in, and the people who are there trying to protect as many as possible.

@CallMeNutribullet

He's getting his staff out because life under the Taliban is going to be hell for EVERYONE. He's getting the animals out become presumably they'll die otherwise. What a monster.

Yes and because sometimes you just have to work with what you have and who you know. His staff are in dire danger. His animals are in danger. he is dealing with that. he can save 65 families and a bunch of animals in a manner that does not take the place of others who also need to be saved. I hope it works out the way it ought to.

@ExConstance

The animals all h;ave homes arranged. But on MN everyone hates dogs so we won't get too many rational comments.

According to a pp, they are all being sent to ‘townhouses’ to live unsuitably. Like any Rescue I know gives out dogs willynilly to unsuitable homes….

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

Are the planes troop carriers? Do any of the planes have holds? Asking because I’ve seen people in the troop carriers but not in normal planes.

The military are using mainly C-17s A-400s and C-130s (Hercules) - they are what I think you are referring to as troop carriers - they don’t have underfloor holds, inside they are a big box with a ramp at the back...you either sit in the para seats along the side or on the floor.

OP is off to look on the pets topic to spread some more of her joy. 🐈 🐕 🐹