CNN Hero Of The Year Pen Farthing Founder of Nowzad

We open the year with CNN Hero of the Year 2014 Pen Farthing, founder of Nowzad Dog Rescue, and author of 3 books including Sunday Times Bestseller: One Dog at a Time.

Watch Anderson Cooper's interview with Pen.

Kilo Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines arrived in the war torn town of Now Zad in Helmand Province of Afghanistan in November 2006. Their mission; provide stability for the local people during a period of ever decreasing security.

The Royal Marines soon realised that it wasn’t only the local people that needed their help. Many of the stray dogs that roamed the town of Now Zad now had a guardian for the first time in their lives; in the form of Royal Marine Sergeant ‘Pen’ Farthing.

Nowzad Dogs operates the only official animal shelter in Afghanistan located just outside of Kabul and supported by a small animal clinic headed up by ex-pat Louise and her team of Afghan nationals.