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?

I’ve followed the charity for many years, they are good and decent people who have been horrifically let down by the shambles of this withdrawal. I am desperately hoping they get to safety as the situation today sounds horrific. That's great but it doesn't explain how a fairly small animal rescue place has trained all these vets. It isn't a university is it. How are they accredited. If people are going to be taking their pets to be treated by them I think we have a right to question this.

The vets went to university for their training, the same as any veterinary students.

I’ve followed the charity for many years, they are good and decent people who have been horrifically let down by the shambles of this withdrawal. I am desperately hoping they get to safety as the situation today sounds horrific.

I don’t think many people are taking issue with his charity organization, and his apparent loyalty to his staff is a wonderful thing.

It’s his possible lack of judgement and the effect it may have on those who have worked for him that is really upsetting/annoying a lot a people outside of this place.

@jasjas1973 But it's fine for people to call Ben Wallace a vile man?

Double standards perhaps?

The issues with the rate of the evacuation are not because of availability of airframes or of landing slots - there is a queue of planes of many nationalities waiting to be told 'go'

Basically, he wants to queue jump - over other nation's flights and over others waiting for their British flight (nationals/dual nationals and those at risk) both in terms of when, and in getting to and through the airport and visa system

Plus he wants to transport animals through the crowds at the airport - which will in itself be tricky (space, type of vehicle) not to mention effect on waiting people - who are desperate enough that hell they'd travel in the hood too

@ancientgran

I’ve followed the charity for many years, they are good and decent people who have been horrifically let down by the shambles of this withdrawal. I am desperately hoping they get to safety as the situation today sounds horrific. That's great but it doesn't explain how a fairly small animal rescue place has trained all these vets. It isn't a university is it. How are they accredited. If people are going to be taking their pets to be treated by them I think we have a right to question this.

You can look at their website for details. They employ fully trained vets and, as below, offer practical training to students:

“The Nowzad clinic now also provides practical 'hands-on' training to Kabul Veterinary University students on a weekly basis delivering much needed practical hands-on training, that otherwise would not be available to the students.“

@Parker231

The vets went to university for their training, the same as any veterinary students.

So he didn't train all these vets. He has claimed that hasn't he?

That's great but it doesn't explain how a fairly small animal rescue place has trained all these vets. It isn't a university is it. How are they accredited. If people are going to be taking their pets to be treated by them I think we have a right to question this.

From what he said previously, I presume they’ve provided placements for training. I think he said about 500 over the time they’ve been there.

@Parker231

The vets went to university for their training, the same as any veterinary students.

With all due respect, is a uni in Kabul the same as a vet school in the West and the UK?

“The Nowzad clinic now also provides practical 'hands-on' training to Kabul Veterinary University students on a weekly basis delivering much needed practical hands-on training, that otherwise would not be available to the students.“ So his charity isn't training them, they are university students who do practical placements with his charity.

Interesting spin.

@TheAstronaut

That's great but it doesn't explain how a fairly small animal rescue place has trained all these vets. It isn't a university is it. How are they accredited. If people are going to be taking their pets to be treated by them I think we have a right to question this.

From what he said previously, I presume they’ve provided placements for training. I think he said about 500 over the time they’ve been there.

Yes but from what I've read he was saying his charity trained 500 vets not just that 500 vets got some work experience with the charity.

@MakemeaCake - their qualifications have been recognised and they have all been offered jobs in a chain of vet practices with locations across the U.K..

With all due respect, is a uni in Kabul the same as a vet school in the West and the UK?

When a sentence is started ‘with all due respect’, literally no respect is given.

I think his intentions are brave and honourable but foolish. He is not the only one desperate to get out with loved ones, whether humans or animals.There are thousands now stuck outside the airport, forces shouldn't go on a rescue mission for him just because he is all over the media when he had the chance to leave last week but refused.

Do the qualifications actually matter at this moment? They are in great danger and need help. Pen is a brave man and is doing his best in a dire situation. Compassion and empathy go a long way.

@ancientgran

“The Nowzad clinic now also provides practical 'hands-on' training to Kabul Veterinary University students on a weekly basis delivering much needed practical hands-on training, that otherwise would not be available to the students.“ So his charity isn't training them, they are university students who do practical placements with his charity.

Interesting spin.

I think you’re just quibbling over semantics now. Students doing practical placements are obviously going to be trained by the qualified people they work with. Arguing over his statement “we trained them” is pointless. Maybe he should have said “we helped train them”. Who cares.

Ugh, there are some unpleasant colonial attitudes coming to the fore here now

Shall I get the houseboy to bring tiffin, Memsahib?

[quote Parker231]@MakemeaCake - their qualifications have been recognised and they have all been offered jobs in a chain of vet practices with locations across the U.K..[/quote]
I wasn't querying the status of vets trained on a recognised course at Kabul University, it was the impression he was giving that his charity has trained them.

@ancientgran and @MakemeaCake are sitting comfortably behind their screen insulting / belittling/ nitpicking at people who have dedicated their lives to making the world better in very dangerous conditions and whose lives are currently in imminent danger

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Yes but from what I've read he was saying his charity trained 500 vets not just that 500 vets got some work experience with the charity.

I’ve supported this charity for years and never heard him claim to have ‘trained 500 vets’... obviously they go to university. He’s said 500 trainee vets have had placements at Nowzad. Look on Twitter, there’s a recent Facebook live where he says it.

@Handsoffstrikesagain

Do you honestly think that prior to his tweet the Taliban didn’t know where Pen and his staff were? Really? They are everywhere.

It’s IS who have threatened terror attacks at the airport, not the Taliban.

I think you’re just quibbling over semantics now. Students doing practical placements are obviously going to be trained by the qualified people they work with. Arguing over his statement “we trained them” is pointless. Maybe he should have said “we helped train them”. Who cares. When that claim forms part of the PR campaign to get him and his team and animals ahead of the queue I think it is relevant. We all need to use a bit of critical thinking when subjected to PR.