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Nowzad animal rescue team evacuated from Afghanistan
Nowzad's team of 67 staff and their families have been safely evacuated from Afghanistan.
Pen Farthing expresses joy following weeks of uncertainty. 

All 67 Nowzad staff and their families have been safely evacuated from Afghanistan and are being processed for their onward flight to the UK.

Confirming the news via Facebook on Saturday (11 September), Nowzad founder Paul (Pen) Farthing expressed joy that his team members had now left the country and are currently in Islamabad.

“The Nowzad Crisis response team worked so hard to get our staff -  independently of the British Government - to the border and then across it, and we’ve now handed them over to the British High Commission in Islamabad. It’s been a long 36 hours. The team has been awake and following the progress. It’s just been absolutely...just...wow!”

The Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan last month led to a mass evacuation of Afghans and foreigners amid fears over a return to a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite this, Mr Farthing pledged to remain in the country and vowed not to leave until his team of charity workers and rescue animals could also make it to safety.

The ex-Royal marine set up a campaign dubbed Operation Ark that managed to raise a staggering £365,000 for a privately-chartered flight to rescue the team. But while the British Government granted visas for his staff and their families, only he and his 170 cats and dogs managed to leave. It was reported that the Taliban prevented the Nowzad team from travelling with him.

In a previous statement, the charity said: "We are relieved to confirm that Pen and the Nowzad animals left Afghanistan and are now safe.

"However, we still have much to do as our wonderful team in Kabul were not allowed through the final barrier. It was a devastating blow to us. We are now working extremely hard to get them evacuated and will not rest until they too are safe."

"Our thoughts for now are with our staff and the many people and animals who have also been left behind. We will do our utmost to help them."

Foreign secretary Dominic Rabb expressed his delight on Twitter that Nowzad’s Afghan staff had now safely crossed the border into Pakistan. He added that they are being assisted by the British High Commission “and we look forward to welcoming them to the UK in the coming days.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.