After overcoming addiction, Niall Harbison becomes a hero for Thailand’s street dogs.
In the heart of the Koh Samui jungle, Niall Harbison’s Zoom chat starts fashionably late, fueled by a dramatic dog rescue and a Kinder bar indulgence. His morning took an unexpected turn when a local’s urgent text revealed a perilous fate for seven puppies—facing a bulldozer or poison on a construction site. The image of the vulnerable litter stirred a resolve in Harbison that defied his promise of “no more puppy rescues.”
Koh Samui, an island adorned with thousands of street dogs, mirrors the larger woe of Thailand’s 8 million strays. Harbison, having encountered his share of injured strays, decided to delve deeper. Teaming up with local vets, he learned the art of neutering and launched a mission to sterilize dogs, curbing the stray population, and offering vaccinations to alleviate their suffering. The island’s sentiments toward dogs range from love to disdain, but most hover in indifference. Harbison acknowledges that rescuing alone won’t suffice; transforming attitudes is imperative. “It’s like sticking a plaster on a heart attack. But it’s not my culture; I’m a foreigner, so I have to be cautious,” he reflects.
A dreamer at 43, Harbison aspires to sterilize a whopping 10,000 dogs monthly, a mission that started with 1,200 in his first year. “It’s a tiny drop in the ocean.” Social media becomes his ally in fundraising, with 579,000 Instagram followers tracking the tales of treated dogs and his own rescues—Snoop, Jumbo, and Tina. Beyond the canine chronicles, Harbison opens up about his mental health, sparking candid conversations. “Most people hide it. There’s still a big stigma about mental health.”
In the midst of the Koh Samui jungle, where each leaf whispers tales of resilience, Niall Harbison paints a narrative of compassion, courage, and the relentless pursuit of a brighter world for man’s best friends.
Nestled in the heart of the verdant Koh Samui jungle, Niall Harbison’s daily routine unfurls like a captivating scene from an adventure blockbuster.
Morning Marvel: Envision this—a dedicated hour each morning where Harbison embarks on a heroic mission: sterilizing 100 street dogs. It’s a bold effort to quell the burgeoning stray population threatening the island. These street dogs, twice a year in heat, pose a risk of flooding the island with a staggering seven puppies per dog. Harbison’s hour of sterilization transforms into a superheroic act, potentially preventing the birth of an astonishing 1,400 puppies, sparing them from the grim fates of poison, attacks, or a life of perpetual breeding.
Plot Twist at Dawn: Hold your breath as the morning plot unfolds—a local urgently signals the impending demise of seven puppies on a construction site. Against better judgment, Harbison dons his capesque Jeep and races across the island. A thrilling rescue mission ensues, taking over an hour and involving not just Harbison but a team of three other volunteers. The result? The puppies are saved, but not without a cost—a bite on Harbison’s part.
Sanctuary Serenity: Step into the sanctuary scene—Koh Samui already shelters around 300 dogs, and Harbison, mindful of the canine census, runs a unique sanctuary. It’s not your typical dog shelter; it’s a vital sterilization center adorned with only 10 kennels. The rescued building site puppies find solace here. Harbison, the man battling both personal demons and those threatening his four-legged friends, has transformed into a genuine island superhero.
Backstory of an Unexpected Hero: Rewind and explore the unexpected hero’s backstory—a man, undiagnosed with ADHD, expelled from school at 17, and now, a thriving entrepreneur grappling with addiction, anxiety, and depression. Born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, his idyllic childhood took a detour when his mother abruptly exited, leaving a young Niall in a state of upheaval.
Snoop, the Loyal Companion: Enter Snoop, a black Labrador cross-breed with sad brown eyes, rescued in 2012. More than just a pet, Snoop became Harbison’s anchor amid life’s storms.
Journey Through Peaks and Valleys: Fast forward through the rollercoaster of business success, partying, and addiction. Harbison reaches rock bottom in Dublin—a “train wreck” with a saving grace—Snoop, the faithful friend who weathered it all.
Turning Point in Thailand: Seeking solace, Harbison’s journey led him to Thailand in 2018. A brief stint of sobriety in Manchester followed, but the grip of depression persisted. Thailand became the canvas for a new chapter, a chance to confront his demons, marked by a tumultuous ride, including a pandemic breakup and a resurgence of addiction.
Clarity in the ICU: Cut to the turning point. A hospital ICU becomes the stage for newfound clarity. Harbison, who once tried to drink himself to oblivion, now stands sober for two and a half years. Where did he find the strength?
Snoop, the Catalyst for Change: The answer lies in the unwavering support of Snoop, the canine confidante. In the hospital room, amid needles and detox, Harbison’s determination surfaces, driven by a desire to change. Snoop, who stood by him through the darkest days, becomes the catalyst for Harbison’s transformation, proving that sometimes, a man’s best friend is also his greatest source of strength.
It’s only in writing the book that Harbison has made the connection between being there for the island’s dogs – imperilled, unwanted strays – and the deep feeling of childhood abandonment. “I could probably get that out of a therapist in 20 sessions, but I brushed it all under the carpet with alcohol for more than 20 years. It’s only now that I’ve hit it head on.
“I don’t think you need to be a genius to see that as long as you give them food and love and a safe place, dogs will be loyal to you forever – they’re not going to run away from you. They’re going to give you their whole heart.”
Harbison and Snoop took in Jumbo next as a permanent resident, a small dog with balloon-sized swollen legs and a kidney infection. He was 10 and Harbison didn’t have the heart to send him back on to the street. As for Tina, a golden retriever found shackled to a chain, sitting in her own excrement, “I saw myself in her,” says Harbison, “her soul, and her body, were broken. But there was still a sparkle there. She was like, I’ve got a chance here, and I’d felt the exact same way when I was in hospital.
“Tina follows me everywhere now, and I am telling her, ‘Look at the two of us, Tina, how lucky are we to be walking in the jungle with the sun on our back? We’re not meant to be here.’”
After leaving hospital in January 2021, Harbison spent the next year “just walking and trying to live and figuring out how to do something meaningful. I was on my way home from playing football one day, still sober, and I stopped and fed some dogs in the jungle. But then I realised, who’s gonna feed them tomorrow?”
He went back – of course he did – with a small bag of food, and more dogs came and then, within a month, he was feeding 20 dogs a day, and that quickly turned into 40 dogs a day. Today, supported by a close community of friends and volunteers, Harbison feeds 800 dogs each day on fresh, homemade food, and treats them for fleas, ticks and wounds. Once caught, dogs are brought to the sanctuary to be sterilised, vaccinated and treated with antibiotics, before being released back to the jungle or the street.
This month sees the launch of his new foundation, Happy Doggo, for mass dog sterilisation, a UK charity that funds organisations to provide sterilisations and emergency medical care for stray animals. While the funding is currently limited to Thailand, Happy Doggo has longterm global targets. “I’m looking at the big picture,” says Harbison. “There are 500m street dogs in the world. I want to halve that to 250m in my lifetime. It’s going to take an army of people to do it. I know they are out there – people are passionate. They want to help.”
Meanwhile, there’s the question posed by the rescue of the seven puppies. Harbison likens it to the philosophical dilemma of whether to save the many by sacrificing the one. “I should really not have got those puppies. I should let nature take care of itself and focus on sterilising more dogs. But those little puppies are alive now. How do you ignore that?”