Ex-UK Marine leaves Kabul with dogs, cats but no local staff

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — A former U.K. Royal Marine who waged a high-profile campaign to leave Afghanistan with almost 200 rescued dogs and cats has flown to safety. A plane carrying Paul Farthing and the animals landed at Heathrow Airport on Sunday. But his charity’s Afghan staff were left behind in Kabul. Farthing won wide support in Britain for his attempt to rescue the animals. But he also drew criticism from some who said he was draining time and energy from the task of rescuing Afghans. Farthing and the animals made it into Kabul airport with the help of British troops. But Taliban guards wouldn’t let the Afghan staff enter. Farthing’s Nowzad charity says it will work to get them safely to Britain.