“All she had to give was whatever she could find on the streets and her entire heart” ❤️
For dog lover Niall Harbison, offering fresh food to stray dogs on Thailand’s Koh Samui began as a simple act of kindness. He found joy in seeing these neglected pups receive the nutrition and care they desperately needed. But to his surprise, one dog in particular expressed her gratitude in a unique way—by bringing him gifts.
It all began last year when Harbison encountered a 4-month-old puppy named Snickers in his neighborhood. Snickers initially belonged to a local family with young children who adored her, but as she grew older, she began spending more time outdoors and receiving less care.
“The kids love the puppies for a few weeks, but then they’re left to fend for themselves, facing traffic and other dangers in the jungle,” Harbison told The Dodo. “It’s a tough life.”
Snickers soon became one of the 1,000 dogs Harbison fed daily. However, unlike the other dogs, who showed their appreciation with tail wags and kisses, Snickers decided to repay Harbison with gifts.
“Her first gift was actually a single flip-flop,” Harbison said. “It was a woman’s size, and it felt like she was saying, ‘Here, you could use some new shoes.’” Just as Harbison looked after Snickers and the other stray dogs, Snickers started looking after him. After the flip-flop, she began bringing him a new item each day.
“All she had to offer was what she could find on the streets, along with her entire heart,” Harbison wrote on X (formerly Twitter). From shoes to muddy children’s toys, Snickers would proudly present a new gift every day for an entire year. Harbison was amazed, having rarely seen such behavior in stray dogs.
“I genuinely think she’s trying to show kindness and maybe even play,” Harbison said. “I’ve seen this in domestic dogs that bring toys to their owners, so I think it’s her way of showing love.”
After a year of daily gifts, it was time for Snickers to receive one in return. Harbison, who runs a rescue called Happy Doggo, decided to officially take Snickers in as one of his residents. His goal was to help her find a forever home while teaching her how to enjoy life as a dog again. Though Snickers had mastered the art of gift-giving, she had never learned how to play.
Fortunately, another resident dog named Teddy stepped in to show her the ropes.
“Snickers had never played fetch,” Harbison shared. “As a street dog, she was always focused on survival, avoiding dangers like big trucks.” But after just 10 minutes with Teddy, Snickers learned how to fetch a ball.
That moment marked a major milestone, but Snickers’ biggest day came when Harbison surprised her with a box of brand-new toys, along with her first collar and bandana.
“After giving me over 100 gifts, it was time to give her an entire set of her own,” Harbison wrote on X. Snickers was overjoyed, playing with her new toys before settling into her bed at Happy Doggo’s headquarters, dreaming of her future family.
While Snickers is still waiting for her forever home, Harbison is confident that it won’t take long. With her playful, loving nature, she’s sure to find the perfect family soon.
“Her gifts are always thoughtful and from the heart,” Harbison said in a video. “She deserves a family to share her kind heart with.”