Pen Farthing & Hannah Surowinski, Directors
Pen with Nowzad
The Nowzad charity was formed in 2007 after Royal Marine Commando Sergeant Pen Farthing took matters into his own hands. He stopped an organised dog fight that was taking place within his unit's remote operating base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Rescuing one particular dog named Nowzad from this fight was the inspiration for the charity.
Like Pen, often when brave men and women are serving in a war zone they find themselves adopting one of the many stray dogs or cats that are struggling to survive there. Nowzad arrange for their beloved adopted animal to safely get to their clinic, where they provide them with shelter and care, and prepare them for their journey to their new country and home. To date they have helped soldiers rescue over 1,200 companion animals from war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Libya and relocate them to USA, UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Jordan Thailand and South Africa.
Nowzad operates the first-ever animal shelter and clinic in Afghanistan and proudly employs three female Afghan nationals who are the first to have qualified as veterinarians. The charity is determined to humanely reduce the stray dog and cat population, to fight the spread of rabies and to improve the general welfare of animals. They do this either through their Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return Scheme (TNVR) or their lifetime care or adoption programme, for those dogs who can no longer survive on the streets. All of this is provided by dedicated employees and volunteers working at the clinic and shelter, as well as those in the mobile unit who provide veterinary care to animals in migrant settlements in the vicinity. Through this community work Nowzad recognised a greater need and increased the variety of animals in their care. They now operate the first donkey sanctuary in Afghanistan where they care for eight donkeys, as well as other working animals including a cow and horses.
What Nowzad does
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​Reunites unofficially adopted dogs and cats with servicemen in their home countries
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Promote humane dog and cat control via rabies vaccination programmes​​
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Deliver migrant camp disease prevention services for farm animals such cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, and chickens, as well as for dogs and cats living in the local area​
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Promote working donkey welfare via education programmes and the establishment of the first donkey sanctuary in Afghanistan​
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Deliver practical education packages for veterinary students in Kabul​
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Operate a working clinic providing first class care and treatment to the companion animals of Afghans as well as strays
How Olsen Animal Trust helps
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Sponsors Nowzad's community work enabling the delivery of effective disease-prevention, vaccination, general animal care, and education programmes to six migrant settlements
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Provided funds for the construction of a purpose-built stable and rehabilitation facility for sick and injured donkeys and a safe, secure and peaceful environment
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Funded a quarantine and isolation unit at the Nowzad clinic in Kabul to ensure that contagious animals can be treated more effectively without the constant hazard of infecting and endangering other animals in their care
Project Images - hover over for details
The dog shelter
Nowzad has the first ever animal shelter of its kind in Afghanistan! The shelter is currently home to over 150 dogs who have been taken in due to injury or abuse or who are waiting to be reunited with their service personnel companions.
Cadence and Caba
When Sgt Caba was deployed to Afghanistan, he and six of his comrades came across a female dog with a litter of six. The lucky mum and her puppies were each adopted by a soldier and once the men had competed their tour of duty, Nowzad successfully reunited the soldiers with their much-loved puppies (and the mother dog!) in the USA.
Dr Mujtaba and Jalala
Jalala the donkey was found suffering on the side of a mountain, limping badly with a severely damaged front leg and a suspected hernia. After loving care and treatment by the Nowzad vet team, including Dr Mujtaba, Jalala has made an almost full recovery and will never work a day in her life again.
Vet student training
Nowzad has partnered with Kabul Veterinary University to provide students with practical hands-on training that they wouldn’t otherwise receive. Over 100 veterinary students pass through the Nowzad clinic every year!
Cats in the clinic
Nowzad provides a home to many rescued cats that have been found abandoned or injured. Nowzad also provide veterinary care, vaccinations and a neutering services for cats that are owned and loved by local Afghans.
Quarantine clinic
OAT are proud to have facilitated the construction of a new quarantine and isolation unit at the Nowzad clinic in Kabul to ensure that contagious animals can be treated more effectively without the constant hazard of infecting and endangering other animals in their care
Pen at the first donkey sanctuary in Afghan
OAT are proud to co-sponsor the Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary together with friends of OAT, David & DJ Walker of Goodheart Animal Sanctuaries in the UK. It's the first of its kind in Afghanistan and is currently home to seven donkeys, a horse and a cow.
Trap Neuter Vaccine Return Scheme (TNVR)
Nowzad carries out vital Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (TNVR) schemes to humanely reduce the stray dog population and instances of canine rabies. They have now successfully spayed and neutered over 2,000 dogs in and around Kabul.
Teenage Dog Training
The Teenage Dog Training scheme at Nowzad is an initiative where teenagers, mainly young women, come to the Nowzad clinic to train, groom and spend time with the rescued animals. The residents adore their weekly visitors and the teenagers find their visits fun and educational, encouraging them build compassion for all animals.
Hogan enjoying life in the UK
Following our OATOKE's visit to Nowzad he decided to adopt two dogs himself. Pictured here is Hogan, who was rescued by Nowzad as street dog puppy who had been run over. Sadly he had already had his ears sliced off! This a common occurrence in Afghanistan as ears are deemed a nuisance when dogs are used for fighting as they become easily infected.
Jamila happy in her new home
This is Jamilla. The second dog that our OATOKE has adopted. Pictured here enjoying the comforts of her lovely new home in England that she now shares with Dave and Hogan.
Migrant Camp Disease Prevention
Nowzad visits Migrant settlements that are home to hundreds of people who have been displaced by war. Disease amongst animals in these camps is often rife and welfare standards are poor. Nowzad carries out vital disease-prevention work through vaccination programmes and improves animal welfare through their hands on education programmes.
For further information on the work of Nowzad please visit www.nowzad.com