Pet hero rescues ‘beautiful dog’ after it was chained up and starving – and he is hailed ‘one of the best humans on the planet’
An abandoned dog reduced to ‘skin and bones’ has made a miraculous recovery in just four days thanks to the dedicated efforts of his rescuer.
Niall Harbison, originally from Dublin but now living in Thailand, has become a beacon of hope for the country’s abandoned and abused dogs.
His personal mission is to rescue 10,000 puppies every month in Thailand, a country known for its countless stray dogs spread across more than 1,400 islands.
His efforts led to the creation of the charity Happy Doggo, an organization dedicated to rehoming and improving the lives of neglected dogs.
Dog lovers around the world have praised Harbison, calling him “one of the best people on the planet,” after he recently shared the heartwarming journey of a dog, now named Lando, on his social media accounts.
Abandoned dog Lando, who was found as ‘skin and bones’, has made a remarkable recovery in just four days (pictured) thanks to the dedicated efforts of his ‘heroic’ rescuer
The young dog – who is half pit bull – was discovered on an unidentified Thai island, tied to a short metal chain and left ‘starved’ after his owners relocated
Lando’s story has captured hearts after Harbison shared it in a after with a million followers on his Instagram account @niall.harbison.
The young dog, who is half pit bull, was discovered on an unidentified Thai island, tied to a short metal chain and left to “starve” after his owners relocated.
Locals had contacted Harbison’s team reporting an “aggressive” dog that appeared ill.
When Harbison arrived, it quickly became apparent that Lando was not aggressive, but rather frightened and weakened by hunger, and wanted to “protect” his territory.
Harbison described Lando’s condition when he was found: “He is skin and bones, and we cannot imagine the hunger he suffered in his previous life.”
After gently feeding the dog a piece of meat, Harbison took him to a veterinarian, where the chain was removed and the expert confirmed that the dog was not suffering from any disease.
From there, Lando, who weighed just 14kg when he was found, was taken to the Harbison reserve, where he was named after Formula One driver Lando Norris, who was competing on the day of the rescue.
Over the next four days, Lando’s recovery was smooth, but he was closely monitored. Harbison and his team fed him four to five small meals a day, while also giving him plenty of walks, grooming and cuddling.
The chain found was wrapped around Lando’s neck and attached to a metal pole buried in the ground
Lando weighed just 14kg when he was found by Harbison
Lando, who was understandably ‘obsessed with food’ after his ordeal, had to be closely monitored to ensure he didn’t eat too much too quickly. Harbison described the situation as ‘dangerous’ given his condition.
The rescuer noted that the team had “never seen a dog eat so much as quickly as he did,” suggesting that this was because the dog feared that each meal would be his last.
Despite the initial fear and trauma, Lando responded well to care, sleeping 12 to 14 hours at a time to regain his strength. After a few days, Harbison reported that Lando was “filling out a little bit and feeling much better.”
A particularly touching moment in Lando’s recovery came when the dog was presented with a plate of freshly roasted chicken. He devoured the meal in seconds, much to the delight of Harbison’s Instagram followers.
In response to the story, many have hailed Harbison as a hero. One person wrote on Instagram: “You are an amazing person sir, thank you for all you do for these precious little angels.”
A particularly touching moment in Lando’s recovery was when the dog was presented with a plate of fresh roasted chicken and devoured the meal in seconds
In response to Lando’s story, many have hailed Niall Harbison as a hero
Another wrote: ‘Thank goodness you were warned Niall. I can’t put into words the anger for people who do this. But your work and overall human tenderness is astonishing.’
A third said: ‘I can’t wait for this good boy to realise he is now safe and loved. I would like to see the previous owners banned from owning dogs.’
Meanwhile, another dog lover wrote on X: ‘You are literally one of the best people on the planet!! Day after day, cruelty after cruelty, you continue this dedication with kindness and no bitterness.’