Eight-Year-Old Boy Found Living With Dogs, Barking Instead of Speaking in Thailand

Authorities raided a house in a clearing in the woods on Monday and found the family

Authorities in Thailand have rescued an eight-year-old boy who was found living in squalid conditions with a pack of dogs and communicating only by barking. The child was discovered during a welfare check on June 30 in Lap Lae District, Uttaradit Province, after local educators raised concerns about his well-being.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was found in a dilapidated, drug-ridden shack alongside his mother, 46, and 23-year-old brother. Both adults reportedly tested positive for drug use. Officials say the family had been ostracized by the community and the boy had never been formally enrolled in school.

The boy was taken into care and he will be able to go to school, supported by the activist group

“He didn’t speak, he just barked. It was pitiful to see,” said Paveena Hongsakul, president of the Foundation for Children and Women, who led the rescue effort in collaboration with local police and social welfare agencies.

Authorities believe the child’s only companions were the six dogs he lived with, as neighborhood children were reportedly forbidden from playing with him due to the family’s behavior and deteriorating living conditions.

Despite his mother receiving a government education stipend of approximately 400 baht (around £9), she is said to have kept him at home and away from school. According to officials, he had only ever attended primary school once, despite previously enrolling in pre-school.

Images from the scene showed authorities standing around a small family in a wooded area with several dogs on site

The mother, known locally for begging at temples, was taken into custody and charged with drug consumption following the raid. Her older son also tested positive for drug use during the same operation.

The shack, situated in a wooded area, is located in what local teachers describe as a known “red zone” for drug activity. Images from the rescue show officials and rescue workers gathered at the rundown home, surrounded by several dogs.

Following the rescue, the boy was taken into protective custody and placed in a children’s welfare home. The Foundation for Children and Women will oversee his recovery and work with social workers to ensure he receives proper education, healthcare, and emotional support.

Ms Hongsakul, of the Foundation for Children and Women, will work with authorities to ensure the child receives continuous education, and her organisation will monitor his progress

“The boy will be given a chance at a good life. We’ll follow up with him to make sure he gets everything he needs,” said Hongsakul.

This case adds to the limited but disturbing history of so-called “feral children”—children raised in isolation from human contact or under the care of animals. One of the most documented examples is that of Oxana Malaya, a Ukrainian girl found in 1991 living with dogs after being abandoned by her alcoholic parents. Like the Thai child, she also exhibited canine behaviors such as barking and walking on all fours. With intervention and care, Oxana was eventually able to speak and reintegrate into society, though she remained affected by her early upbringing.

Experts say the long-term impact of extreme neglect and social isolation during childhood can result in developmental delays and behavioral abnormalities, but outcomes can improve with early intervention and consistent support.