The Heartwarming Story of the Man Rescuing Thailand's Dogs

An Irishman living in Thailand has made it his mission to save stray dogs. After nearly dying in the hospital, Niall Harbison has made a 180 with his life. Here's his inspiring story.

The Boy From Ireland

Niall Harbison is an Irishman from Cookstown, which is located in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Cookstown isn't famous, although its former resident is putting it on the map through his good deeds.

The town is filled with ancient sights and structures that have been untouched for hundreds of years. The town was founded around 1620, so history is intertwined with daily life there. It's a quaint village, but Harbison was looking for something greater in his youth.

Moving to the Big City

According to The Irish Times, "...Harbison moved to Dublin in the late 1990s to train as a chef at Cathal Brugha catering college." Dublin was going through changes during that time, like every other city in the world. Young people were out clubbing, and there was a small, budding fashion scene.

Dublin was the place to be, and Harbison found himself there. He told The Irish Times, "I got a job at the Michelin-starred Peacock Alley after completing my training. I worked there during the early Celtic Tiger years, becoming head chef at just 21. It was an amazing time in Dublin, setting me up for my next career move."

Traveling and Working

The small-town boy found himself working as a chef in the French Alps during the high time of the winter skiing season. This, in turn, led him to work on yachts along the French Riviera. He started on smaller vessels with a crew of six people and eventually worked his way onto mega-yachts.

He worked on the yacht of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, per The Irish Times. The mega-yacht included "two helipads, a swimming pool, a basketball court, a cinema, wine bar and a mini marina with a yacht and submarine." There was also an "on-board recording studio." Talk about the lifestyle of the rich and famous!

Down Below

Harbison catered toward the wealthy. He told The Irish Times that whenever the yacht was docked in Cannes for the annual film festival, his shopping list could reach over $150k. He said, "There's no menu, people just order what you want, so you need a comprehensive supply of pretty much everything."

He also mentioned, "I made Irish breakfasts for Bono after he found out there was an Irish chef on board." Harbison was able to see the entire world through his job. The boat would traverse across the globe "from Alaska to Tahiti and anywhere in between."

Back To Land

After Niall made his final docking and left the boating life behind him, he pondered his next career move. He told The Irish Times, "Social media was at its cusp at the time and I thought it would be a good idea to get involved." This sailing man had officially become a land dweller once more. 

He continued, "So I returned to Dublin to start an online PR and social media agency with Lauren Fisher in May 2009." They began an adventure together, and they called their company Simply Zesty. They had over 30 employees and offices in London and Dublin.

Another Company

Harbison and Fisher grew Simply Zesty into a successful venture. They were so successful, in fact, that they sold the company to UTV in 2013. That same year, Harbison launched another media and marketing company. There was no time to rest for his hard-working Irishman.

He called his second business Lovin' Dublin. The blog gave readers food reviews, tips for the city, and Dublin-geared content. It quickly gained traction and popularity, becoming one of the most well-known sites in Dublin. It seemed that Harbison was at the top of the world.

Taking It Easy

However, Harbison felt far from that. He told The Irish Times, "I sold the business in 2018 before deciding to do something else together." What else could he tackle? He already had a career as a chef and sold two media businesses. What was going to be next?

He continued, "So I decided to move to Thailand to take it easy for a while and remote work on various ventures here." Harbison bought a one-way ticket to paradise. He traded in the cold winters of Dublin for the tropical weather. He made the journey to Thailand and called the island of Koh Samui home.

Change of Plans

Koh Samui, the second largest island off the coast of Thailand, is a tourist hot spot. The must-see destination is known for its beautiful picturesque beaches, lush rainforests, and breathtaking waterfalls. The island also boasts several luxury hotels and world-famous spas.

Normally, the island sees close to 3 million visitors a year. However, things changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. Niall spoke to The Irish Times about what life was like on the island, "People here didn't get government support and many returned to their villages on the mainland."

Bad Habits

While working as a chef, Harbison developed a few terrible habits that haunted him for years. He told The Project that he would end up on "two, three day bingers, blackouts, taking drugs." He grew attached to a darker side of life, which followed him even after he left the world of private cheffing.

Through his time in Dublin and even in Thailand, Niall found himself in bad situations. He couldn't shake off the habits he had and was sinking deeper into despair. He relied on substances to get him through his struggles. Additionally, Harbison also dealt with issues regarding his mental well-being.

A Brush With Death

One day, Harbison called his friend and asked him to drive him to the hospital. He told MailOnline, "I nearly drank myself to death because I suffered from anxiety and depression." Harbison was admitted to the hospital and taken to the Intensive Care Unit.

For the next three days, Harbison was on the edge of losing his life. He was battling for his life in that hospital bed. "When you're lying in hospital bed, rigged up to machines, I think that was the sort of final wake up call that I needed," he told The Project. 

Reflecting on Life

The time lying in the hospital completely alone allowed Harbison to reflect on his life and choices. He explained to The Dodo, "All I wanted was a bigger home, a new car, but as I was about to die, I realized that none of that stuff really mattered at all."

Harbison was able to look within and reevaluate what he wanted from his life. He came up with a new mission. He told MailOnline, "I spent three days there and when nearly dying I vowed to change my life and do something meaningful." It wouldn't be long until an opportunity came along.

Lucky the Dog

In his 10,000 Dogs newsletter, Niall wrote, "You meet certain people who change the course of your life, or in my case you meet certain dogs. This little beauty was one of the first I met when I started feeding stray dogs here in Thailand." Niall Lucky aptly named that dog.

He explained to The Project, "She was a real sort of loner." Harbison felt a kinship with the stray dog more than the others he had been feeding. He realized that Lucky needed more assistance than simply being fed, so the Irishman took it upon himself to lend her a helping hand.

Inspiring a Movement

Per his newsletter, it took Harbison almost a week to organize a car and be able to pick Lucky up. He took her to a veterinarian to have her checked out. It turns out that she was suffering from quite a few ailments, including swollen lymph nodes, worms, skin issues, liver problems, and irregular blood levels.

Harbison covered the costs of her care, which came to be around $135—a hefty price in Thailand. Per Harbison, the visit cost him 4,500 Baht, and for context, the average salary is around 10-12,000 Baht per month. Many dogs like Lucky needed care, and so began Niall's mission of helping the strays of Thailand.

Forty Dollars a Day

What began as helping out one dog turned into an entire operation. Niall began to feed the strays around his house, but word must have spread because more and more dogs started to show up during feeding time. It cost the Irishman around $40 a day to feed the dogs.

"Not crazy expensive..." he remarked to The Project during his interview. However, Niall had a realization. The stray dogs required more than simply food. They needed preventative medical care, access to vets, and sterilization. All of that would cost a lot more dollars per day.

Saving Thailand’s Dogs

What is the point of doing all of this? To save 10,000 dogs. At least, that is the mission that Niall Harbison has in mind. He wants to help out the rescue dogs in Koh Samui and worldwide. It may seem wild and frankly impossible to anyone else, but for Niall, it is just another day in his life.

He wrote in an Instagram post, "Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever." While the work is rewarding and a passion of Harbison's, it is not easy to accomplish. Although he may be living in paradise, he has a challenging task in front of him.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

According to Niall, around 10,000 stray dogs are on Koh Samui, the island he lives on. There are an estimated 8 million strays in Thailand. That's a whole lot of pups, and Niall Harbison wants to help them all. While it may seem like a big feat, he is well on his way.

According to the Soi Dog Foundation, based in Phuket, Thailand, the stray population continues to grow due to dogs not being spayed or neutered to try and control the population. It is individuals on the ground doing the hard work that are helping the dogs of Thailand.

Daily Routine

So, what does a typical day look like for the man saving Thailand's dogs? It's pretty standard stuff, surprisingly. He told The Dodo, "My mornings start at 5:45 am. I'll start by walking my own dogs." Then, he sets off to help all his furry pals in his own care and around the island.

"I spend mornings and evenings feeding them and then there are visits to the vet in between. In Thailand, as people who have visited may know, there is a huge street dog problem, and in many cases the dogs are abused or malnourished," he explained to The Irish Times.

Scootering Around

So, how does he care for all these animals around the island? Harbison described to MailOnline, "It's just me doing it on my scooter and in a jeep." He goes around the island with food and supplies, helping strays in need. When he first started, he fed between 40 and 50 dogs daily.

He wrote in his newsletter, "It takes about two hours every day. Morning meals take about 90 minutes, while evening meals take about 30 minutes (only the odd needy dog gets a 2nd meal) including handing out medicine." That's a whole lot of food, and his efforts only grew!

800 Dogs

The number of dogs that Niall helped continued to grow. Now, he feeds around 800 dogs a day. That's a massive jump from the 40 he used to provide for when he first started this venture. Now, he's not doing it completely alone, either. He told The Dodo, "A lady prepares [the food] for me in the local community."

His dogs, McMuffin and Derek, will help do a "quality check" on the food, and then Niall goes off to feed. He explained to The Dodo that he feeds around 80 to 90 himself, and volunteers will help give food to the remaining 700 strays they assist. After that, Niall returns to the shelter and takes care of the dogs.

"Stupidly Optimistic"

Although the work can be overwhelming, Niall Harbison has a positive mindset about his mission. During his interview, he said to The Project, "I might be stupidly optimistic and ambitious, but I think I have to shoot for the stars because there is a lot of suffering..."

He also relayed, "My ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of street dogs in the world by 50%." With an estimated 500 million street dogs, per Harbison, that's a tall order he has made for himself. However, the Irishman seems determined to make his dreams come true.

Second Chances

Niall is determined because this isn't just a job for him. It means way more to him than punching in numbers or updating spreadsheets. For Niall, helping these stray dogs is something else entirely. It is giving them a second chance at life, and the recovering addict knows that everyone deserves a second shot.

"I'm a big believer in second chances, and that's what these animals deserve," Harbison shared with The Dodo. Maybe everyone can learn a lesson from Niall and the stray dogs. Sometimes the thing that people, or dogs, need is simply a second chance in life.

Staying Sober

Although he is doing amazing work and is proud of everything he has accomplished, some days are harder than others. He shared in an Instagram post, "I mainly share happy dog content here but I also want to tell people who struggle with mental health or addiction that things can turn around."

He continued, "It is possible for things to change no matter how dark times get. There should be no shame in looking after your health." Niall is extremely open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse. It is challenging work to keep his demons at bay.

Battling His Demons

While most of his content is based around his dogs and their journeys, Niall also takes the time to post about his mental health struggles. He wrote in an Instagram post, "I share these moments because I have the luxury of not having a boss and I don't care about being judged by others."

He continued, "Just know that you are never alone if you do feel like that and that it will pass." He acknowledged to MailOnline that he suffers from burnout and that taking care of the rescues can be tolling on his mental health. However, now he has the tools to cope, like breathing exercises and medication.

Rewarding Work

Even if there are tough days in his line of work, Harbison is grateful for every moment spent with the rescue dogs. He once said, "Most people think I save dogs, but really they saved me." Cue a huge aww! There is nothing more heartwarming than hearing his mission and how deeply it impacts him.

Harbison told The Project, "I sleep like a little baby now, whereas before I was always chasing something that, I don't know, maybe doesn't exist. With this, like everyday, yes, it's tough, but there are moments in there that are just absolute bliss."

Sharing the Journey

Niall Harbison took his skills and talents from his previous careers and merged them into one with this new venture. From his days in the kitchen, he has reconnected to those roots by making food for the dogs. His days at his media companies have also come in handy.

Harbison created a Twitter and an Instagram dedicated to his new mission. He also started a Substack newsletter called 10,000 Dogs. Through all these various methods, he updates supporters, donors, and dog lovers about the good work he's doing and the progress that he's making.

An Author

He's a saver of dogs, a former business owner, and now Niall Harbison can add another job title to his resume. He also wrote a novel titled Hope - How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life. The book centers around his complete transformation from the edge of death to his mission of saving 10,000 dogs.

The book features some rescue dog celebs like McMuffin, a Beagle who survived cancer, and King Whacker, a stray who was found with his head split open by a pickaxe. Plenty of other pups will be featured in what will surely be a heartwarming story about the power of dogs and helping one another out.

Life in Thailand

Life in Thailand is entirely different from life in Dublin, Ireland. Harbison told The Irish Times, "I pay around €400 a month for an apartment with a shared pool. If you were to pay €2,000 here, you would get a five-bed villa, which is obviously not compatible to home."

He continued, "It's so safe here too. You can leave doors unlocked, despite what some western opinion on Thailand is." This doesn't even include the food and weather! "A meal costs around €2. You can live in utter luxury here…" It is easy to see why Harbison told the newspaper, "…I'm very happy here."

A Celebrity

Harbison's story has gone mainstream. He was featured on major media outlets like The Dodo and The Project. He has been featured in articles by publications like The Irish Times and The Daily Mail. Every person who hears this awe-inspiring story can't help but be hooked on Niall and his mission.

With a new book coming out and news of his work only growing more and more, it is safe to say that Niall Harbison may earn celebrity status soon enough. This wouldn't be his first brush with fame, either! From working for the wealthy as a chef to giving a TEDx Talk while working in media, Harbison is used to this life.

Thousands of Followers

Going mainstream also helps bring in the biggest commodity in social media - followers. When he first started his Instagram account, there were dozens of followers. He was able to grow that to 800 followers in 2022. A year later, he hit a quarter of a million followers.

He celebrated that milestone by saying, "I can't quite understand the level of support in my head but I feel it and it makes me want to do everyone proud and give the street dogs a voice around the world." His account continues to grow and has close to half a million followers.

The Man Saving Thailand’s Dogs

Niall's resilience, dedication, and love are attributes everyone should be inspired by. He serves as an example that it is never too late to start over or change paths. Although his life may not be filled with luxury cars and designer clothing, it is rich in many other things.

Niall wrote, "I write these updates to sort of remind myself of the progress being made. When I read this one back and saw all the kindness and the scale of people involved and the sheer amount of dogs being helped I had to pinch myself. A great feeling but also much more still to be done. We are only getting started."