Woodley Donate Veterinary Equipment to help the Nowzad Animal Hospital in Kabul

The Nowzad Charity was founded in 2007 by Pen Farthing, a Former Royal Marine Commando. Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines arrived in the war-torn town of Now Zad in Helmand Province of Afghanistan in November 2006. Their mission - to provide stability for the local people during a period of ever decreasing security.

The Royal Marines soon realised that it wasn’t only the local people that needed their help. Many of the stray dogs that roamed the town of ‘Now Zad’ now had a guardian for the first time in their lives; in the form of Sergeant Pen Farthing. Upon breaking up an organised dog fight, one of the dogs ‘adopted’ Pen as his only buddy. Naming the dog ‘Nowzad’ Pen could not leave his new four-legged friend behind, so he hatched a cunning plan to bring Nowzad the dog from deep in Helmand Province to a new life in the English countryside.

Miraculously, his plan was successful, but Pen was soon inundated with requests from soldiers in the same position as he'd found himself in. Thus, the Nowzad Charity was born.

But operating within Afghanistan has meant Nowzad has faced multiple challenges during the years of conflict, not least the coalition withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The team who remained in Kabul after Nowzad’s now famous ‘Operation Ark’ campaign, have not only rebuilt from scratch but are now expanding their work within many communities, including helping to improve the welfare of working animals and the families who rely on them. As the years have advanced so have Nowzad’s goals to ensuring their animal welfare work not only benefits the animals but the people too. The charity’s rabies prevention work is testimony to that.

In late 2023, the Nowzad charity opened the ‘Nowzad Veterinary Hospital’ in the centre of Kabul – the first and only of its kind in the whole of Afghanistan – which now treats, neuters and vaccinates many hundreds of animals in need. Nowzad also runs a shelter for recovering animals ready for adoption or release, as well as an Equine Sanctuary, currently home to 15 donkeys and 2 horses rescued from the brick kilns of Kabul.

The equipment so generously donated by Woodley has been invaluable in increasing the diagnostic capabilities at the Hospital, and the whole Nowzad team – in Kabul and the UK – are so very grateful to Woodley for enabling this. Thank-you!

Equipment donated includes:

• InSight V-Chem® Veterinary Chemistry Analyser
• InSight® Veterinary HCT Meter
• Hemocue® WBC Analyser
• g-Pet Plus® Veterinary Glucose Meter

 You can find out more about the Nowzad Charity’s animal welfare work at www.nowzad.com