UTTARADIT, THAILAND, July 5 : Authorities in northern Thailand have rescued an eight-year-old boy found living in squalid conditions with a pack of dogs, displaying animal-like behavior and unable to communicate with human speech. The child, whose name has not been released, was discovered during a welfare check on Monday at a dilapidated, drug-ridden shack in the Lap Lae District of Uttaradit Province.

According to local media, the boy was found alongside his 46-year-old mother and 23-year-old brother, both of whom tested positive for drug use. The residence, described by officials as a known hotspot for narcotics activity, was shared with six dogs, the only companions the boy appeared to have.

“He didn’t speak—he only barked. It was heartbreaking,” said Paveena Hongsakul, president of the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women, which collaborated with police and social workers on the rescue operation.

The child had been isolated from the community and had never been enrolled in school, despite his mother receiving a government education subsidy of approximately 400 baht (about £9) per month. Activists allege that the mother kept the boy at home after receiving the financial support and forbade him from attending school.

Local residents told authorities that they had barred their children from playing with the boy due to the family's erratic behavior. The mother, reportedly known for begging at nearby temples, now faces charges related to drug consumption.

"The house was located in a red zone for drug activity," said a local teacher. "This boy had no one—just the dogs to play with."

The rescue was prompted by concerns raised by school headteacher Sophon Siha-ampai, which led the foundation to coordinate a multi-agency response. Images from the scene showed authorities surrounding the modest one-storey home, with dogs roaming the wooded property.

Following the intervention, the child was transferred to a local children's home, where he will begin receiving the care and education he has long been denied. Ms. Hongsakul confirmed that the foundation will closely monitor the boy’s development and ensure he is integrated into the education system.

“He will be given the chance to live a better life,” she said. “We’ll follow up to make sure he receives the support he needs.”

Reports indicate the boy had briefly attended preschool but only appeared once at primary school before being withdrawn. Experts note that cases of so-called “feral children”—those raised in extreme isolation or by animals—remain rare and poorly understood.

One notable case is that of Oxana Malaya, a Ukrainian girl discovered in 1991 after years of living in a kennel with dogs. She exhibited canine-like behaviors, such as walking on all fours and barking, but later achieved partial rehabilitation, including fluency in speech and stable employment.

Authorities in Thailand hope that, with early intervention and consistent care, this boy’s story will lead to a similar path of recovery and reintegration.