One Dog at a Time: An inspiring true story of saving the strays of Afghanistan

Pen Farthing

Nov 2009 · Random House

About this ebook

'Thick with rolls of gleaming new wire, the obstacle was designed to prevent a suicide bomber driving into the compound's thick mud walls. Today, however, it had only succeeded in stopping a terrified-looking small white dog. I knew that the Taliban could be hiding in any one of these buildings, just waiting for one of us. But I knew I couldn't just walk away.'

In a remote outpost of Now Zad, in Helmand province, Pen Farthing's tour of duty will change his life forever, but for entirely unexpected reasons ...

Appalled by the horrors of a local dog fight, he intervenes to free the victims. One of these dogs finds his way into the Marine compound - and into Pen's heart. Soon other strays are being drawn to the sanctuary provided by Pen's makeshift pound, including one young mum who crawls under the compound fence carrying her newborn pups to safety.

But as his time in Helmand draws to an end, Pen cannot leave the dogs of Now Zad to their own fates. He begins hatching plans to help them escape to a better life.

Ratings and reviews

Well written. Not a glorified horror story. Just honest and true like the dogs.

One dog at a time

About the author

A passion for the outdoors and a love of doing everything the hard way caused Pen Farthing to pop into a Royal Marine careers office one day aged 18 to take on the toughest infantry training in the world to earn the coveted Green Beret of the Commandos. His military career, which has included tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, lasted over twenty years. Since publication of the Sunday Times bestseller One Dog at a Time, Pen has left the Marines to run his charity Nowzad Dogs and - when time allows - an outdoor adventure company. Pen is married to Lisa and they share their home with five dogs.Pen Farthing has won The Dogs Trust Dog's Best Friend Award and the IFAW Pets and People Award. His dogs Nowzad and Tali were nominated for the Crufts Friends for Life Award. More details about Nowzad Dogs can be found at www.nowzaddogs.com.