NOWZAD opens new charity shop in Bideford

A new charity shop has opened in Bideford, taking over the premises previously occupied by the North Devon Animal Ambulance shop. 

The venture supports NOWZAD, the charity founded by Pen Farthing, which gained international attention in 2021 for its successful evacuation of animals and staff from Afghanistan during the Taliban's takeover.

The idea for reopening the shop came from the charity’s volunteers, who approached Pen with the proposal. 

Pen, known for his dedication to animal welfare, agreed to take over the shop, beginning with a six-month trial to see how it works.

He explained: “The team asked us, ‘Would you guys consider taking it on as a shop?’ and it wasn’t something we’d thought about before. But we looked into it and thought, well, okay, let’s give it a go for six months and see how it works. It’s fantastic; we’ve got these amazing volunteers who did most of the work for us. We just had to say ‘yes’.”

Pen, who moved to Devon and joined the military at 18 as part of the Royal Marines, has always been passionate about animal rescue, particularly in Afghanistan. 

He founded NOWZAD in 2007 after witnessing organised dog fighting while deployed. During his time in Afghanistan, he intervened to stop a dog fight and ended up caring for one of the dogs involved.

“My connection with animals has always been strong. After that incident, I knew I had to do something to help,” Pen said.

One of the most heartwarming stories associated with NOWZAD involves Ewok, a small Pomeranian who now acts as the charity’s mascot. 

Originally from Russia, Ewok was owned by an Afghan man who, when the Taliban took control, had to make the difficult decision to either leave the dog on the streets of Kabul or place him in the care of NOWZAD. 

Unable to see the dog left behind, Pen Farthing ensured that Ewok was safely brought into the charity’s care, and he has since become a symbol of the organisation’s mission.

Pen’s commitment to animal welfare reached new heights in 2021 when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. 

He remained in the country to help organise the evacuation of both animals and the people involved in the charity’s operations. 

While the evacuation drew significant media attention, Pen faced criticism on social media but remained focused on his mission.

“The priority was always getting the people out. The animals were going to be in the cargo hold of the plane; that was the simplicity of the plan,” he explained.

The emotional toll of the operation and the media attention led Pen to write Operation Ark, a book in which he shared his experience.

Unable to find a publisher, Pen almost gave up hope of ever publishing his book. 

However, the team at Claret Press gave him the opportunity to bring his story to life, which he described as “much-needed therapy” following the past events he faced.

“Writing the book helped me process everything,” he said.

NOWZAD continues to support animals in Afghanistan and Ukraine, where the charity has been tackling issues such as rabies vaccination. 

This year, the team reached a significant milestone by vaccinating their 2,000th dog in Ukraine, a major achievement in their ongoing efforts to protect animals in conflict zones.

However, the charity is currently facing financial difficulties. 

Pen shared that this year has seen a decline in donations, making the opening of the new charity shop particularly important. 

He appealed for donations, especially unwanted Christmas gifts, to help support the ongoing work of NOWZAD.

“We’ve been struggling financially, and any help, no matter how small, would make a huge difference,” he said.

In a recent uplifting development, one of the Afghan veterinarians who Pen helped relocate to Devon has recently requalified to practice in the UK. 

Pen expressed his pride in seeing the vet integrate into the UK healthcare system.

For now, the focus remains on supporting animals in need and continuing the vital work of NOWZAD both abroad and at home. 

Pen remains hopeful that the new charity shop will provide much-needed support during this challenging time.