Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
WHEN you open the fridge and find the brown sauce bottle is empty – there is no choice. Even in a war zone. A journey to the supermarket calls.
This is former Royal Marine Commando, Pen Farthing, best-selling author and founder of the charity Nowzad speaking from Afghanistan. Regular readers will be familiar with Pen’s work rescuing animals in war zones. Many will have met him as, last year, he gave a presentation at Ealing Animals Fair. More about the Fair next week but now back to the Afghan supermarket.
Thankfully for a young pup, it was a journey that meant Pen was exiting the Nowzad van just as the pup stuck its head out of the drain outside the supermarket where he was foraging for food.
Pen could immediately see the pup had an injury to its mouth. He approached it slowly so as not to scare it and quickly realised it was not an injury but leishmaniosis. A potentially fatal disease which needs immediate treatment. The pup was super friendly which meant Pen could scoop him up.
Once back at the Nowzad clinic in Kabul, the pup was admitted for treatment. Named Creamy, he was put in quarantine where he was desperate for a warm bed and food for his empty tummy.
Pen says that every now and then, Nowzad are reminded why quarantine is necessary. Just a few days after arriving at the clinic, Creamy started to act aggressively. He was showing the first signs of rabies. Within a few hours he was fully rabid.
The team acted swiftly and were able to painlessly end his suffering, thankful he had been saved from a difficult death on the streets where he may have bitten someone.
Although Creamy was only with Nowzad a short time, he touched their hearts. He also emphasised the need to expand their quarantine facilities so they can help more animals.
If you want to know more about Nowzad’s work or donate for expanded quarantine facilities, go to nowzad.com or send a cheque to Nowzad, Meriel Suite, Hartnoll Farm Business Park, Tiverton EX16 4NG. All donations are welcome but those who give over £200 will have their name or message displayed on the unit wall.
Just in case you’re wondering how those at the Kabul clinic are faring with the pandemic, Pen says there is little in the way of Covid testing and definitely no vaccine delivery on the horizon. They have little choice but to mask up and crack on.