In a heartbreaking case from Thailand, an 8-year-old boy was found living in isolation with six family dogs, mimicking their behaviour after being neglected by his own family. Shockingly, the boy couldn’t speak and only barked to communicate.
The incident came to light in Uttaradit province after a concerned school principal alerted local authorities. When officials arrived at the family’s wooden home, they found the boy with his mother and elder brother, both of whom tested positive for drug use.
According to neighbours, the child had been kept away from other kids due to his family’s suspicious behaviour. Isolated and unschooled for two years, the boy began copying the dogs—barking, playing, and even behaving like them.
Despite receiving government funds for the boy’s education, his mother never sent him to school. “His mother simply took the money and kept him at home,” said Paveena Hongsakul, head of the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women, who led the rescue mission alongside police.
Local teachers described the area as a “red zone” for drugs, with the child left to fend for himself while his mother often begged for food. Authorities and social workers were left stunned by the severe neglect.
The boy has now been rescued and is receiving proper care in a children’s shelter. Efforts are underway to help him adapt to a normal life and provide him with education and emotional support.
Paveena assured, “He will get a fair chance at life. We’ll continue to monitor his recovery closely.”
