The Nowzad Charity was founded in 2007 by Sgt Pen Farthing
We reunite Soldiers with their Battle Buddies and provide vital Animal Welfare to Afghanistan

To relieve the suffering of animals in Afghanistan; including companion animals, working equines, stray and abandoned dogs and cats and all other animals in need of care and attention, and to provide and maintain rescue, rehabilitation and education facilities for the care and treatment of such animals with no voice but ours.



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 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…