The former Royal Marine who attempted to evacuate the staff and animals from the rescue centre he set up in Afghanistan has been forced to leave some workers behind.
Paul Farthing - known as Pen - launched his Operation Ark campaign to try and safely remove 173 cats and dogs as well as members of staff from his Nowzad animal charity and their families.
However, despite being granted visas, staff were stopped from getting on the private chartered flight at Kabul airport by Taliban militants.
Farthing told The Sun: "It is just so depressing I had to leave them behind.
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"Some of them came with me to the airport but they weren't allowed to cross the line from Taliban to British control.
"There were lots of tears when we said goodbye.
"I feel so many things. I feel very sad for them [but] I'm relieved for me and I feel happy for the animals."
In a tweet posted on Friday evening, the Ministry of Defence said: "Pen Farthing and his pets were assisted through the system at Kabul airport by the UK armed forces. They are currently being supported while he awaits transportation.
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"On the direction of the defence secretary, clearance for their charter flight has been sponsored by the UK government."
As well as the animals, Farthing brought 125kg of dry pet food, 72 tins, 270 litres of water and cleaning supplies to look after the pets.
Last week, Farthing was forced to defend himself after it was claimed he had been 'putting animals before people'.
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "[Farthing] could get through the gates as a British passport holder.
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"He was called forward on Friday and I recommend he takes that.
"His workforce have been offered, as entitled personnel, places and they will be able to be called forward, but I can't guarantee in this window they will be processed onto aircraft, all I can say is they qualify.
"As for the animals that he was rescuing... it is just not going to be the case that I will prioritise them over the men, women and children we see in desperate need at the gate."
Farthing hit back, telling the news outlet: "Mr Wallace, I never asked you to prioritise pets over people. At not point have I ever said that, whatsoever.
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"We got a flight and we've said, we will wait - you've just got to give us this call sign so we can actually get it in play, get the airline to actually start the flight plans and then we will sit quite happily and wait.
"We've got an aircraft that we need to put 69 people on, it's got capacity for 250 people.
"And in that cargo hold - it'll be empty. I can't park people in a cargo hold, but I can park my animals in that cargo hold."
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Pen FarthingTopics: UK politics, Animals