People Are Risking Their Lives To Save Pets In Afghanistan
Afghanistan Animals

People Are Risking Their Lives To Save Pets In Afghanistan

Ruchi
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A lot has been written about the 15-year-long war in Afghanistan. But often overlooked within this narrative of colossal pain and suffering are the animals of the country – the dogs, cats, birds and even donkeys who have found themselves left out of development and aid efforts.

Wonder is one such dog, who not only survived the streets of Kabul while blind, but also raised a little pup of her own. She was found in a drainage ditch, huddled close to her little puppy, now named Serac, in need of urgent medical attention. 

A kindly expat working in Kabul found her and brought her over to Nowzad, one of the first and few capable veterinarian clinics and shelters in Afghanistan. “When we found Wonder, she was severely blind due to glaucoma,” Pen Farthing, founder of Nowzad, tells The Dodo. “We had to operate upon and remove her eyes to to save her life.”

 

Today, Wonder is in much better health and Serac is training to become a service dog for survivors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada. For now, though, Serac is still figuring out how to use a water bowl.

Dogs aren’t the only animals rescued by people stationed in the war-torn country. A kitten named Marble was found by a U.S. soldier who grew too fond of her during his deployment in Afghanistan to leave her behind.

About Post Author

Ruchi

I am an Indian journalist based in Kabul for nearly three years now. I primarily covering post-conflict, developmental and cultural stories from the region, and sometimes report on the ongoing conflict as well.
ruchihkumar@gmail.com
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