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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
XenoBitch · 25/08/2021 16:44

@thereisonlyoneofme

Not read full thread, but what will happen to the animals in the UK Where will he find a place for 200 odd animals that also will have to go into quarantine ?
A lot of UK rescues will be helping out. They do it all the time. When the Canidrome in China closed, so many UK rescues took on the dogs that left there... was over 500 dogs.
TeloMere · 25/08/2021 16:46

www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/is-taking-your-pet-on-an-airplane-worth-the-risk-6241533/

It sounds terrifying, poor animals.
I can't imagine anyone who loves their dog wanting to put them through this.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 25/08/2021 16:51

I can't believe space in a plane should be used for animals, I'm furious at the idea.
my friend's sister and four children can not get out of there and have been living at the airport desperate for a way out. Her husband is missing he was a policeman and they have been made homeless, they are waiting for a call that may never come.

People before animals.
Always.
He's being ridiculous and should not be getting airtime.

This Pen Farthing guy
derxa · 25/08/2021 16:51

I hope he is successful but he is a Billy Bullshitter.

XenoBitch · 25/08/2021 16:52

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox

I can't believe space in a plane should be used for animals, I'm furious at the idea. my friend's sister and four children can not get out of there and have been living at the airport desperate for a way out. Her husband is missing he was a policeman and they have been made homeless, they are waiting for a call that may never come.

People before animals.
Always.
He's being ridiculous and should not be getting airtime.

The animals are going in the hold... which is where no human being would ever be.
Tele12345 · 25/08/2021 16:53

What time consuming "process" takes place for the cats and dogs?

Well, I don't know but that is what has been said by those organising the evacuation, and I take their word over random people like myself on the internet.

For example, I thought he had to schedule a special flight to take the animals as the military flights didn't have cargo space? Processing time means, I would imagine, liaising with the american military who run the airport, and air traffic control, to organise a commercial flight landing, within a 30ish min turnaround (as I believe it is at the minute). Providing ground staff to land that flight, and security staff to meet the group at the airport entrance. This a complex military operation, you can't just turn up and land a plane and stroll through the airport! You also just can't randomly take animals abroad, hence the need for permits.

Then you have to get the pets through the checkpoints to the airport, get them through the gates past the long queues (I don't think you can just drive in a civilian car in for security reasons). Searching them for bombs, checking animal permits. Then transport the animals to the aircraft (so you would need to borrow a large vehicle and take it away from other duties, plus driver), carry them onto the aircraft. You might need soldiers to coordinate. So the point is this would take some staff and time away from the queues of humans, realistically.

While it seems noble it may actually harm the prospects of those without the money to hire a private plane, and I believe it is a case of everyone being equal in this situation.

EsmaCannonball · 25/08/2021 16:55

It's not true that all the planes leaving Kabul are military or government affiliated. Private jets chartered by companies and organisations to get their staff out have been allowed, as have jets chartered by private contractors who are charging individuals thousands to get out of the country. Most of these jets have not been full. Queue-jumping is already going on if you or your employer has the money. The situation is already prioritising the most able over the most vulnerable.

Elderflower14 · 25/08/2021 16:55

I happily made a small donation and I'm pleased Pen and all his staff and animals are going to be flying to safety...

SueSaid · 25/08/2021 16:56

'What time consuming "process" takes place for the cats and dogs?'

Seriously. You think 200 animals can just pitch up and not take airport personnel away from more pressing matters to count them, check them, ensure documentation is correct then safely load them and their crates?!

'Course he is. And playing the "i'm ex military" for everything it's worth.'

'Well he is ex military so who can blame him?'

Oh nothing wrong with being ex military, its the 'I'm ex military! they picked a fight with the wrong person!' and 'I'm an ex marine we don't leave people behind' stuff. They should not be giving him and his supporters airtime.

So sorry about your friend's family @Xoxoxoxoxoxox Flowers

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 25/08/2021 16:58

It will take time to load them and sort them out which could have been given to people.
It's obvious a whole plane will take time and energy to load
It's heartbreaking the energy around this is distracting from the PEOPLE that are in need of evacuation

listsandbudgets · 25/08/2021 16:58

Perhaps this was covered in last 20 pages but what will happen about quarantine and who's paying? Um assuming they'll all have to be quarantined until declared rabies free and its a few hundred pounds per month per animal

notimagain · 25/08/2021 16:58

The animals are going in the hold... which is where no human being would ever be.

edition.cnn.com/2017/01/03/aviation/trapped-baggage-handler/index.html

It can be done…..it has been done..and more than once.

Classica · 25/08/2021 17:00

@EsmaCannonball

It's not true that all the planes leaving Kabul are military or government affiliated. Private jets chartered by companies and organisations to get their staff out have been allowed, as have jets chartered by private contractors who are charging individuals thousands to get out of the country. Most of these jets have not been full. Queue-jumping is already going on if you or your employer has the money. The situation is already prioritising the most able over the most vulnerable.
True.

Was revolted to read today that American billionaire and 'private defense contractor' (mercenary for hire), Erik Prince is charging people $6,500 for a seat out of Kabul. Always a profit to be made...

Ijustknowitstimetogo · 25/08/2021 17:00

Yes absolutely they should get the staff AND the rescue animals out. They’re not taking the place of people that’s setting a false dilemma.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. He’s got the plane sorted already and we’ve got the resources in this country to look after the animals.
100% agree with him.

Tara336 · 25/08/2021 17:00

@JaniieJones he said in a statement earlier in the week that there are no airport personnel, the plane has 60 minutes in which to land, be loaded and leave. His staff were practicing loading and making a plan as it would be them doing it.

bagelsandoranges · 25/08/2021 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

XenoBitch · 25/08/2021 17:01

@listsandbudgets

Perhaps this was covered in last 20 pages but what will happen about quarantine and who's paying? Um assuming they'll all have to be quarantined until declared rabies free and its a few hundred pounds per month per animal
I saw it has been sorted.. all the paperwork with Defra etc. A lot of UK rescues offering spaces for the animals coming here. Nowzad already overrun with offers for permeant homes too.
Classica · 25/08/2021 17:03

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox, the very best of luck to your friend's sister and her children. Her having to deal with that situation on top of a missing husband is beyond the abilities of my imagination.

toomuchlaundry · 25/08/2021 17:05

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox if your friend’s family could get on the spare seats on his plane would you be so against him then

DancesWithTortoises · 25/08/2021 17:07

I'm so worried that this silly man's grandstanding will mean fewer women and children get out. How can he be so selfish?

His people were safe, he knew that. They had been assured of places. But he demanded that the pets also got out and stomped around waving a cute dog in the air and shouting until he got his way.

EsmaCannonball · 25/08/2021 17:07

Yes, that US private contractor is charging $6500 per individual if you are already at the airport. If you need to get to the airport it's undisclosed thousands more. These jets are leaving with empty seats because it's all about making money. At least Nowzad has made the offer of its spare seats.

kikipie · 25/08/2021 17:08

I like people more than I like dogs. Or cats for that matter.

Really? Quelle surprise

I like most dogs and cats over quite a lot of people. A lot of humans are actually quite abhorrent

Classica · 25/08/2021 17:08

@DancesWithTortoises

I'm so worried that this silly man's grandstanding will mean fewer women and children get out. How can he be so selfish?

His people were safe, he knew that. They had been assured of places. But he demanded that the pets also got out and stomped around waving a cute dog in the air and shouting until he got his way.

it will probably win him a Pride of Britain award.
bagelsandoranges · 25/08/2021 17:08

I apologise.

But seriously.... Can we please stop blaming an innocent guy for this. It was the doing of our own government that the plane was stalled, and it was for no reason at all other than the usual petty decisions. There was no impact to the current evacuation!