‘He Didn't Speak, He Barked': Shocking Case Of Neglected Thai Boy Goes Viral

News18

9 hours ago

The situation came to light when a school principal and a child rights activist raised concerns about the boy's condition.
An eight-year-old boy in Thailand was found living alone with six dogs after being abandoned by his family for years. With no one else around him, the child learned to bark like the dogs. He had no access to school, social life or basic care.
The situation came to light when a school principal and a child rights activist raised concerns about the boy's condition. According to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the boy had been out of school for two years. But his mother had continued receiving a government education subsidy of about 400 baht (approximately Rs 1,050) meant to support his schooling. The funds were reportedly never used to enrol him in classes.
According to neighbours, the boy's 46-year-old mother would often go out to beg for food and money in nearby villages and temples. She would leave the child alone at home, a small wooden house in Uttaradit province, northern Thailand. His only companions during this time were the six dogs kept by the family.
Authorities visited the house after the school principal reached out to activist and politician Paveena Hongsakul. The home, built on stilts, was in very poor condition.
Inside the house, police found the boy with his mother and his 23-year-old brother. Both adults tested positive for drug use. The child had been left alone and not looked after.
'He didn't speak, he just barked. It was pitiful to see," said Paveena, who is also the president of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women. She led the rescue operation with local police.
Officials said the boy had never attended kindergarten. He had once visited school at the age of Grade 1, but was never sent back.
'His mother hasn't allowed him to go to school since he received a subsidy for free education. After getting the money, she simply kept him at home," Paveena said.
People in the neighbourhood also avoided letting their children play with the boy. They said they were disturbed by the family's behaviour. Without human contact, the child grew close to the dogs and started mimicking them. Barking became his way of communication.
'The house is in a red zone for drugs. The boy had no one, just the dogs to play with," said a local teacher as quoted by SCMP.
The boy's mother and brother have now been charged with drug use and taken in for treatment. The child has been moved to a nearby children's shelter. Paveena's foundation is working with officials to make sure he gets proper schooling and long-term care.