Five years ago today. The looks on their faces say everything words never could.

Five years ago, as Kabul fell and chaos unfolded around them, Pen stood alongside two of our brave Afghan veterinarians — Dr. Zahra and Dr. Farzad— holding small puppies and facing an entirely terrifying, uncertain future. It was the moment that marked the very beginning of Operation Ark.

In that quiet room, amidst fear and grief, there was also so much courage. They were determined not to abandon their colleagues, their families, or the animals depending on Nowzad.

Today, as the world reflects on five years since the Taliban takeover, stories like today’s BBC News report remind us of the heartbreaking reality still facing millions in Afghanistan. Women and girls have been systematically erased from public life — stripped of their right to work, to study, and to move freely in their own country.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyje43dz4eo

Looking back at Dr. Zahra in this photograph, we are reminded not only of what our Afghan female vets endured during those harrowing days, but of the relentless courage girls and women continue to show every single day under unimaginable circumstances.

We will never forget where Operation Ark began, the incredible resilience of our team, or the ongoing struggle of the women of Afghanistan who deserve to be remembered, heard, and supported.

Thank you for standing with us!