In Afghanistan, dogfighting isn’t a crime punishable by years in prison; it’s a typical Friday night. One former British soldier is doing his part to end that with a charity that helps rescue dogs from combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq and returns them home with the soldiers who’ve grown attached to them.
Pen Farthing, a former sergeant in Britain’s Royal Marines, first witnessed Afghanistan’s brutal blood sport in 2006 after arriving in Helmand, a battle-scarred Afghan province in the southern part of the country. He broke up the fierce dogfight taking place right outside of the remote compound where he was stationed and quickly befriended one of the gladiators involved.
Farthing named the dog Nowzad, after the Helmand town in which he was based, and the pup was soon joined by a pack of malnourished strays taken in by Farthing and his men. They built the dogs a makeshift shelter where the dogs were protected from the harsh Afghan winter and allowed to feast on leftover rations.
Less than a year later, Fathering founded Nowzad Dogs, which assists soldiers who wish to bring their canine companions home with them. “Within days of starting the charity, we had our first American soldier asking us for help,” Farthing told Bloomberg News in a recent interview. All told, Nowzad dogs has helped save about 230 dogs and 10 cats, started a permanent animal shelter outside of Kabul and begun animal welfare education programs in the country.
“We’re not just fanatical dog lovers,” he told Bloomberg News. “We want to make a difference in Afghanistan.”
Pen Farthing, a former sergeant in Britain’s Royal Marines, first witnessed Afghanistan’s brutal blood sport in 2006 after arriving in Helmand, a battle-scarred Afghan province in the southern part of the country. He broke up the fierce dogfight taking place right outside of the remote compound where he was stationed and quickly befriended one of the gladiators involved.
Farthing named the dog Nowzad, after the Helmand town in which he was based, and the pup was soon joined by a pack of malnourished strays taken in by Farthing and his men. They built the dogs a makeshift shelter where the dogs were protected from the harsh Afghan winter and allowed to feast on leftover rations.
Less than a year later, Fathering founded Nowzad Dogs, which assists soldiers who wish to bring their canine companions home with them. “Within days of starting the charity, we had our first American soldier asking us for help,” Farthing told Bloomberg News in a recent interview. All told, Nowzad dogs has helped save about 230 dogs and 10 cats, started a permanent animal shelter outside of Kabul and begun animal welfare education programs in the country.
“We’re not just fanatical dog lovers,” he told Bloomberg News. “We want to make a difference in Afghanistan.”
