Niall Harbison: From Rock Bottom to Rescuing Thousands of Dogs in Thailand
In a moving episode of The Excerpt podcast, Dana Taylor interviews Niall Harbison, author of the new book "Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World." Harbison shares his inspiring story of personal redemption intertwined with his dedicated mission to rescue and rehabilitate abused street dogs in Thailand, his adopted home.
Harbison’s journey began far from animal rescue. He recounts his past life in the corporate world, a life that led him to Thailand seeking relaxation after selling his business. However, his struggle with alcoholism spiraled out of control, bringing him to the brink of death. He ended up in intensive care, a moment that served as a powerful wake-up call. Lying in his hospital bed, Harbison made a life-altering decision: if he survived, he would dedicate his life to saving dogs.
True to his word, after recovering, Harbison started small, feeding a few stray dogs. This simple act of kindness quickly grew into something much larger. Soon, he was personally feeding 80 to 100 street dogs. Today, his organization, Happy Doggo, provides fresh food to an astounding 1,200 dogs every single day. In addition to feeding, the organization actively rescues and rehabilitates dogs in need.
The book’s namesake, Tina, played a pivotal role in shaping Harbison’s mission. Tina was a golden retriever he rescued from a life of neglect and abuse. When he found her, she was chained up, malnourished, and used for breeding. Harbison saw a reflection of his own brokenness in Tina and was determined to help her.
Rescuing Tina was challenging, but Harbison nursed her back to health. She blossomed into a beautiful dog, but unfortunately, the years of abuse had taken their toll. Tina’s kidneys were severely damaged, and she lived only six months after her rescue. Despite her short life, Tina’s impact was profound. Her resilience and joyful spirit in the face of adversity inspired Harbison. She taught him to live in the present and to approach life with unwavering optimism.
Tina’s legacy lives on through the work Harbison continues to do in her name. Happy Doggo is building a hospital and sterilizes approximately 7,000 dogs every month to control the street dog population. The organization also focuses on rehabilitating dogs and finding them loving homes.
Harbison acknowledges the comments he receives on social media urging him to take every dog home. He emphasizes that while he wishes he could, taking them all would distract from his larger mission of systemic change.
The rescue operation has significantly impacted the communities where Happy Doggo operates. Thailand has an estimated eight to ten million street dogs. These dogs are often part of the community, but their presence can create conflict. Not everyone appreciates having multiple stray dogs near their homes, potentially causing problems by tearing up trash and creating unsanitary conditions.
Harbison is committed to finding solutions that address the root causes of the problem. His approach involves rescuing individual dogs, advocating for legislative changes, promoting sterilization programs, and educating children about animal welfare. He believes that a multifaceted approach is essential to creating lasting change for the dogs of Thailand.
Happy Doggo re-homes dogs both locally and internationally, finding loving families for them in countries like England and the United States. While rehoming is a rewarding aspect of the work, Harbison recognizes that it’s not a solution to the overall problem. Instead, it serves as a way to educate the world about the wonderful qualities of street dogs and to demonstrate that they deserve the same love and care as any other pet.
He shared stories of some of the dogs who found homes. Mr. Fox lives in Montana, Brad Pitt resides in Long Beach, and Snickers is in Washington. These stories showcase the potential for street dogs to become cherished companions.
One particularly memorable rescue is the story of Whacker. Harbison received a call about a dog who had been brutally attacked, his head split open by a pickaxe. The vet told Harbison that the blow had missed his brain by millimeters. When asked for the dog’s name, Harbison, unable to think of anything else, simply called him Whacker.
After recovering, Whacker developed a regal demeanor and became known as King Whacker. Today, King Whacker lives a happy life in Scotland with his loving family. This story highlights the resilience of these animals and the transformative power of compassion.
Despite the positive impact of his work, Harbison acknowledges the emotional toll it takes. Seeing dogs who have been shot or poisoned is incredibly difficult. The suffering and pain these animals endure can be traumatizing. However, Harbison finds strength in the success stories and the knowledge that he is making a difference.
Remembering Tina and the other dogs who have found loving homes reminds him that even though he can’t save every dog, he can have a positive impact on countless lives.
The memory of burying Tina and the other dogs who passed away in a short time fuel him to push on. He remembers screaming into the jungle air, vowing to turn the negative experience into something positive. This moment marked the acceleration of everything he does.
Harbison emphasizes that collaboration is essential to improving animal welfare. He acknowledges and respects that anyone working in animal welfare is a hero, and stresses that it is a team effort.
Harbison’s ultimate goal is to rescue a million or more dogs. He believes this ambitious target is achievable, given the scale of Happy Doggo’s sterilization program. Sterilizing between 5,000 and 8,000 dogs every month prevents countless puppies from being born into a life of hardship on the streets. Each one of those is an operation where you have to sedate them, the vets operate on them, and that means that mothers like Tina wont have… she probably had 40, 50 puppies in her lifetime that were sold, but each operation stops that happening to 40 or 50 dogs coming into the world. He believes that his million dog goal is conservative and has the potential to speed things up. He acknowledges that achieving this goal requires marketing, funding, and logistical expertise, but he is determined to make it happen in Tina’s name.
The podcast episode concludes with Harbison expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and his unwavering commitment to his mission. His journey from personal struggle to animal rescue is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and the enduring bond between humans and animals.
