Rescued 8-year-old Thai boy raised among dogs only communicates by barking

Authorities found the boy living in squalor, surrounded by six dogs

Last updated:
Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor
2 MIN READ
Illustrative image. The child has now been relocated to a shelter home, where he is receiving proper care.
Illustrative image. The child has now been relocated to a shelter home, where he is receiving proper care.
Pexels

An eight-year-old boy from Thailand’s Laplae district has been rescued from a drug-ridden home where he was raised in near-total isolation and learned to communicate only by barking.

Authorities found the boy living in squalor, surrounded by six dogs, after a school principal and local activists raised the alarm, according to a report in Thaiger.

A childhood in isolation

The child, referred to as “Boy A” for legal reasons, had not attended school for over two years. His mother, a drug addict, reportedly left him alone for hours each day in a dilapidated wooden house while she roamed the neighbourhood begging for food.

With no friends, no adult supervision, and only the dogs for company, the boy began mimicking their behaviour — communicating by barking instead of speaking.

“He didn’t speak, he just barked,” said Pawina Hongsakul, head of the Pawina Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, which led the rescue operation on June 30. “It was pitiful to see.”

Neglect, drugs, and aid misuse

Both the boy’s mother and 23-year-old brother tested positive for drug use, according to local reports. Although the government provided the mother with a 400-baht subsidy for the child’s education, she never enrolled him in school.

The boy reportedly attended Grade 1 for only one day before being kept at home indefinitely.

“After receiving the education subsidy, the mother simply pocketed the money and never let him attend school again,” said Pawina.

A neighbourhood that turned away

Due to the mother’s erratic behaviour and the home’s reputation as a local drug hotspot, neighbours discouraged their own children from playing with the boy. As a result, he was never socialised and never learned to speak in words.

A path to recovery

The child has now been relocated to a shelter home, where he is receiving proper care. “The boy will be given a chance at a good life,” said Pawina. “We’ll stay involved to ensure he gets the help and education he needs.”

Balaram Menon
Balaram MenonSenior Web Editor
Balaram brings more than two decades of experience in the media industry, combining sharp editorial judgment with a deep understanding of digital news dynamics. Since 2004, he has been a core member of the gulfnews.com digital team, playing a key role in shaping its identity. Passionate about current affairs, politics, cricket, entertainment, and viral content, Balaram thrives on stories that spark conversation. His strength lies in adapting to the fast-changing news landscape and curating compelling content that resonates with readers.
Related Topics:

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next