Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

In a deeply distressing case that underscores the ongoing impact of drug abuse, an eight-year-old boy in Uttaradit Province has been rescued after living in extreme neglect and reportedly communicating through barking like a dog.

 

The boy, referred to as “A” for privacy reasons, was found living in squalid conditions with six dogs and minimal human interaction in Lap Lae District. His mother, a long-term drug user, failed to enrol him in school and kept him isolated from the community. With no friends and no education, the child developed canine-like behaviour, using barking sounds as his primary means of communication.

 

The case came to light after a concerned school principal alerted The Foundation for Children and Women, led by renowned child rights advocate Paveena Hongsakul. A multi-agency rescue operation was quickly coordinated, involving local police, education authorities and officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

 

Authorities discovered the boy living in a dilapidated stilted wooden house alongside his 46-year-old mother, 23-year-old brother and several dogs. Both adults tested positive for drug use and have been charged with narcotics offences. Neighbours, who had long avoided the family due to erratic behaviour and frequent begging by the mother, revealed the child had no formal schooling and had become increasingly feral in his behaviour.

 

“The boy had never attended kindergarten. Though his mother collected 400 baht in government education support, she failed to enrol him in school,” said Sopon Siha-ampai, Director of the local school.

 

The child has now been placed under state protection at the Uttaradit Children’s Home. The Paveena Foundation is working closely with Dr. Thir Phawangkhanant, Deputy Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission and Dr. Trin Kandokmai, Director of the Happiness and Safety Management Centre, to ensure he receives long-term psychological support and uninterrupted education.

 

Authorities have pledged to closely monitor the case and provide ongoing rehabilitation for the child, whose condition highlights the tragic consequences of drug dependency on vulnerable family members.

 

The rescue operation has sparked renewed calls for improved early intervention and social support mechanisms in communities grappling with substance abuse.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-02

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Auhorities discovered the boy living in a dilapidated stilted wooden house 

House looks OK.

 

Reading the many AN forum threads, I'd say a better looking house than some of Thailand's foreigners are living in. 😂

 

 

 

 

I thought these  drugs were now supposed to be harness to society?

Ya-ba. Very bad drug. There will be more of it around now thanks to Thaksin.

7 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Ya-ba. Very bad drug. There will be more of it around now thanks to Thaksin.

 

Why?

7 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

I thought these  drugs were now supposed to be harness to society?

Who says this ? Most sane people want addiction treated as a health issue not a criminal issue. 

At least he didn't grow up with cats !!

 

But seriously hopefully he gets someone to habilitate him and he gets a life back.

Pretty sure not an isolated case in this country.

26 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Why?

Dope shops closing. Ya-ba is very cheap and available. 

Poor lad. What a rotten start to life. Parents entirely to blame. I just hope that the authorities will sincerely help him to gradually adjust to a more normal existence.

No way the neighbors didn’t know the kid was in the house and being neglected. Just didn’t give a FF.

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The boy, referred to as “A” for privacy reasons, was found living in squalid conditions with six dogs and minimal human interaction in Lap Lae District. His mother, a long-term drug user, failed to enrol him in school and kept him isolated from the community. With no friends and no education, the child developed canine-like behaviour, using barking sounds as his primary means of communication.

Someone must have known a child was there....

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Ya-ba. Very bad drug. There will be more of it around now thanks to Thaksin.

 With the greatest respect, I disagree.

I lived in Lanna when Thaksin was Prime Minister and he had a shoot on sight policy to eliminate the drug mules, both Thai and Burmese, smuggling Ya-Ba across the border from Burma.

I once met one of his Border Guards at a function and this man boasted about how many mules he had shot by summary execution. No figures were made public.

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

 With the greatest respect, I disagree.

I lived in Lanna when Thaksin was Prime Minister and he had a shoot on sight policy to eliminate the drug mules, both Thai and Burmese, smuggling Ya-Ba across the border from Burma.

I once met one of his Border Guards at a function and this man boasted about how many mules he had shot by summary execution. No figures were made public.

I'm saying thanks to Thaksin because he's responsible for closing down the dope industry.

10 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

I thought these  drugs were now supposed to be harness to society?

Which particular drugs do you mean.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Someone must have known a child was there....

The school did, or at least the education authorities. The mum took the 400 baht education support but never enrolled him.

He should have been taken into care years ago 

11 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

I thought these  drugs were now supposed to be harness to society?

There are some posters who believe that most drugs are harmless and that they should all be legal, though alcohol and tobacco are dangerous to peoples health and should be banned.

There is at least 1 poster on the Bangkok Post forum that believes this.

 

I am sad, because the neighbours did not seem to report this at all.

 

Poor child.

4 hours ago, BumGun said:

Who says this ? Most sane people want addiction treated as a health issue not a criminal issue. 

That's like treating robbery like a poverty issue. 

12 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

House looks OK.

 

Reading the many AN forum threads, I'd say a better looking house than some of Thailand's foreigners are living in. 😂

 

 

 

 

A very sad, tragic story; nevertheless forum members can make a joke about it. Americans?

16 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

That's like treating robbery like a poverty issue. 

No comparison whatsoever. That's a cliche of right wing extremists.

Just now, Magictoad said:

No comparison whatsoever. That's a cliche of right wing extremists.

What is a cliche of right-wing extremists?

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I'm saying thanks to Thaksin because he's responsible for closing down the dope industry.

Hopefully not. Even if it's made illegal it won't be closed  down. Just thousands of people will be locked in dreadful conditions; making people like you happy.

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 With the greatest respect, I disagree.

I lived in Lanna when Thaksin was Prime Minister and he had a shoot on sight policy to eliminate the drug mules, both Thai and Burmese, smuggling Ya-Ba across the border from Burma.

I once met one of his Border Guards at a function and this man boasted about how many mules he had shot by summary execution. No figures were made public.

I thought Thaksin organised the murder of 212 dope smokers in Bangkok under the pretence that they were dangerous  drug dealers. Not that dealers are dangerous.  They provide a much needed service to the community.

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Someone must have known a child was there....

The neighbours did according to the article but ignored both him and his mother....

11 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

Hopefully not. Even if it's made illegal it won't be closed  down. Just thousands of people will be locked in dreadful conditions; making people like you happy.

Why would it make me happy?

that's severe cruelty leading to a severe psychological disorder.

those responsible should be jailed for at least 20 years. 

 

5 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Why?

by agreeing, I'm also wondering "why?" Why, thanks to Thaksin, will there be more of this drug around?  

 

2 hours ago, friendphil said:

by agreeing, I'm also wondering "why?" Why, thanks to Thaksin, will there be more of this drug around?  

 

More users. Can't get dope let's do some ya-ba. Like I said very cheap and available.

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Dope shops closing. Ya-ba is very cheap and available. 

 

And what has any of that got to do with Thaksin?

 

You said there will be more Yaa Baa due to Thaksin, but it doesn't make any sense.

 

People who use weed aren't the same style of people who use Yaa Baa, as a rule.

 

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Dope shops closing. Ya-ba is very cheap and available. 

 

Close they might, but it won't cause everyone to move to Yaa Baa.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

More users. Can't get dope let's do some ya-ba. Like I said very cheap and available.

 

Nope,

 

This does not work as a comparison.

9 hours ago, Magictoad said:

22 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

House looks OK.

 

Reading the many AN forum threads, I'd say a better looking house than some of Thailand's foreigners are living in. 😂

 

 

 

 

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A very sad, tragic story; nevertheless forum members can make a joke about it. Americans?

Who's making a joke, I'm DEAD serious.