The 173 cats and dogs rescued from Afghanistan by former marine Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing could be ‘destroyed on arrival’ in the UK, it’s been claimed.
The Sunday Times, quoting a senior official in Whitehall, predicted that the animals from Pen’s Nozad animal charity in Kabul could be condemned to death despite all the efforts and controversy to get them out of the country.
‘If they turn out to be riddled with disease, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) will have to put them down,’ the official is quoted as saying.
And, referring to the destruction warrant issued by the government on an alpaca who’s twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and which has led to a very public spat between its owner Helen Macdonald, the Whitehall official added, ‘‘It will be Geronimo the alpaca on speed.’
The controversial rescue flight, due to touch down on Sunday, has led to a war of words between Farthing, founder of Nozad animal charity and the defence secretary Ben Wallace.
Farthing, reportedly now dubbed the ‘pet dick’ in government, referring to Jim Carrey’s character in the movie Ace Venture, Pet Detective, has succeeded in getting his 94 dogs and 79 cats flown out of the country after a high-profile campaign – but has faced backlash.
He has strongly denied claims that he wants to put animals’ lives before humans by stating his rescue animals have been travelling in the cargo hold of planes to leave seats open for refugees.
The Sunday Times has published an explicit message from Farthing to Peter Quentin, a special advisor for Wallace. It states Farthing would “spend the rest of my time ****ing destroying you on social media and every other ****ing platform I can find.”
The Daily Mail has reported Farthing’s private charter plane landed at Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning – and he immediately took a connecting flight to Norway to visit his wife.
The charter plane will need to be cleared by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
We have contacted Defra for comment.
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