Thai authorities rescue abandoned boy barking like a dog after drug raid exposes shocking child neglect.
Uttaradit Province, Thailand (Epicstorian) — Thailand child found living in isolation with dogs is rescued after authorities discover he can only bark and cannot speak.
Officials said the boy had been abandoned by his mother and left to grow up in a drug-infested shack deep in the woods of Uttaradit Province.
Abandoned Thailand child lived in seclusion with dogs and no formal education
The child was found on June 30 during a welfare inspection carried out by local authorities and child rights activists. The home, described as run-down and drug-infested, was also occupied by the boy’s 46-year-old mother and 23-year-old brother, both of whom tested positive for illegal substance use.
Officials said the family had been rejected by their neighbors, leaving the boy with no social interaction besides the dogs. He had never been enrolled in school, despite his mother receiving a government subsidy meant for his education.
Barking Thailand child displayed no signs of human language development
“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 with police assistance. Authorities believe the boy had only attended school once, briefly, before being kept home permanently by his mother.
Local residents reportedly prohibited their children from playing with him, citing the family’s behavior. The mother was known to beg at temples and was charged with drug consumption following the raid. The area had long been labeled a high-risk drug zone by school officials.
Thailand welfare rescue sparks national attention
The intervention was triggered after a concerned headteacher, Sophon Siha-ampai, alerted child protection services. Authorities conducted a raid on the shack, located in a forest clearing, and found the boy emaciated and exhibiting animal-like behavior.
The boy has since been relocated to a children’s shelter where he is receiving care, education, and counseling. Ms. Hongsakul confirmed her foundation will work with the government to ensure he continues schooling and gains the support needed to reintegrate.
Case draws comparisons to feral children incidents worldwide
The discovery has drawn comparisons to past reports of feral children — minors raised in isolation or by animals. One such case was that of Oxana Malaya, a Ukrainian girl found in 1991 living with dogs after being abandoned by alcoholic parents.
She, too, barked, crawled, and displayed canine-like behavior but eventually adapted to human life with therapy and education.
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Experts note that such developmental deprivation can result in lasting psychological effects, though with early intervention, recovery is possible. Thai officials have pledged to follow up with the boy’s progress.
“He will be given a chance at a good life. We’ll follow up with him to make sure he gets everything he needs,” said Ms. Hongsakul.
