The following article appeared in The Wall Street Journal on February 15, 2011
Activist Works to Rescue Stray Dogs in Afghanistan
By Shelly Banjo
Cathy Kangas wants to help stray and abandoned animals in Afghanistan.
To that end, the animal activist and founder of beauty-products company PRAI is giving $55,000 to rescue neglected dogs through Nowzad Dogs, a grass-roots animal-rescue organization started by former marine sergeant Pen Farthing.
The gift is through Beauty with a Cause, an organization that helps animal-welfare organizations around the world funded through a percentage of her company's profits.
Ms. Kangas happened upon Nowzad dogs after reading "One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan," by Mr. Farthing, who in 2007 began rescuing stray dogs used for Afghan dog-fighting while he was serving in Afghanistan in the United Kingdom's Royal Marine Commando.
Mr. Farthing is among a number of soldiers who had informally adopted stray dogs during their tours of duty for what he calls therapeutic value. After forming a relationship with the animals, he says he and his charity, Nowzad Dogs, help get the dogs out of Afghanistan. So far the organization has transported 150 dogs to America, England, Canada, Holland and South Africa , where soldiers' families can take care of them. The process costs about $2,500 per dog.
The charity employs and trains Afghans to administer animal vaccinations and to take care of the dogs.
"We are committed to getting the dogs out but also to help Pen upgrade the shelter he has and get other shelters up and running," says Ms. Kangas.
Now the charity is working to expand and raise funds to launch an education program that teaches Afghan children about animal welfare and helps to reduce the spread of rabies.
"We're trying to introduce a humane way of relief to control the stray dog population and help make a positive difference in Afghanistan," Mr. Farthing says. "We want to show the country they can control the stray-dog population and reduce the incidence of rabies."
Nowzad Dogs is the latest in a series of animal organizations and causes Ms. Kangas has supported over the years. In 2006, in conjunction with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and other animal groups, she offered $16 million to the Canadian government to stop the Canadian Seal hunt, an annual commercial hunting of seals. She says she didn't hear back from the government at the time but that the hunting has since subsided.
"Animals are last on the list with most high-profile charities," Ms. Kangas says. "They have no voice, they're defenseless and most humans take advantage of that."
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