{"id":45448,"date":"2021-08-30T19:31:58","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T14:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/districtchronicles.com\/kirstie-allsopp-hits-out-as-pen-farthings-173-cats-dogs-land-from-afghanistan-saying-we-betrayed-so-many-people\/"},"modified":"2021-08-30T19:32:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T14:02:10","slug":"kirstie-allsopp-hits-out-as-pen-farthings-173-cats-dogs-land-from-afghanistan-saying-we-betrayed-so-many-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/districtchronicles.com\/kirstie-allsopp-hits-out-as-pen-farthings-173-cats-dogs-land-from-afghanistan-saying-we-betrayed-so-many-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Kirstie Allsopp hits out as Pen Farthing’s 173 cats & dogs land from Afghanistan saying ‘we betrayed so many people’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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KIRSTIE Allsopp has blasted a decision to bring 173 cats and dogs to the UK from Afghanistan while people were left behind.<\/p>\n

Pen Farthing’s animals arrived safely at London Heathrow over the weekend and are now destined for homes in Britain.<\/p>\n

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Kirstie Allsopp said: ‘We have betrayed and let down so many’<\/span>Credit: Rex<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ex-Royal Marine and Nowzad Dogs founder praised troops who helped the cats and dogs escape but spoke of his heartbreak at\u00a0leaving devoted staff behind.<\/p>\n

Today Kirstie, 49, best known for fronting property hit Location Location Location, said: “The message we sent by getting animals out ahead of humans is appalling.”<\/p>\n

Speaking a furious debate on Twitter, she wrote: “If I were left in Afghanistan, or were trying to get a member of my family out, I simply could not conceive how we could get dogs & cats on a plane to the UK but not humans.<\/p>\n

“We have betrayed and let down so many people and then told them straight up that animals matter more.”<\/p>\n

She added: “Why couldn\u2019t the money used to charter the plane have been given to the families & friends of staff at the centre to feed the dogs & cats and care for them.<\/p>\n

“Why did they even need to leave Afghanistan?”<\/p>\n

Told the hold of the aircraft where the animals were stored wasn’t suitable for people, she replied: “If a hold can sustain animals it can sustain humans.”<\/p>\n

And when one follower suggested she moved on, Kirstie replied: “Probably right, I have always been disturbed by the British preferences for pets over people, nothing new here.”<\/p>\n

But she was challenged by many, including one follower who told her: “This story is complex.<\/p>\n

“Pen got himself (and the animals) into the airport through lots of Taliban commanders.<\/p>\n

“The only help he had with the animals was to load them onto a privately funded plane. This was on the runway and did not take any personnel away from humans.”<\/p>\n

She replied: “I don\u2019t care how complex it is. Imagine how you would feel seeing those animals gain access to the airport while you still waited in a sewage ditch with your exhausted and terrified children.”<\/p>\n

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Pen Farthing, seen here in Kabul with his dogs, got the animals to safety<\/span>Credit: Jerome Starkey<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pen Farthing spoke to GMB today from Oslo after bringing his animals to the UK<\/span>Credit: pixel8000<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Kirstie debated the merits of the flight with others on Twitter today<\/span>Credit: Channel 4 \/ Neale Haynes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Pen Farthing apologises for the language he used in leaked voicemail message<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n