Something I struggle with a lot. The Meatball Dilemma. Would love your thoughts... niallharbison.substack.com/p/the-meatba...
Replies
Gosh it's a tough one, as always you are doing the best you can. Heartbroken for Coco not just the conditions but must be missing Momo so much. Can you keep going back to check and keep trying to persuade them that they need to be together. It could even be that they see that too? 1/2
jul 21, 2025, 6:08 pm • 3 0 • view
I actually think in some ways these dogs that are cruelly locked up are worse off than those out on the street. Shut up in their own excrement and no choice in anything.
jul 21, 2025, 6:08 pm • 5 0 • view
You do great things, to the best of your and the team's ability, and available resources. It's not all on you to solve. Didn't realise Mr Stringer was one of the 2 white dogs, such a gorgeous little fella. Disgraceful that the owner let him get like that. Thank God for Sybille.
jul 21, 2025, 7:47 pm • 1 0 • view
Is there a way to pre-commit to surrender based on verification of follow-up care? For example, in exchange for care, pet guardians agree to unannounced follow-visit. If that visit finds required care instructions not followed or poor living conditions, doggo is automatically surrendered. or…
jul 21, 2025, 11:38 pm • 1 0 • view
perhaps tie pre-committing surrender to the level of care investment required. If the treatment is more than a week, or more than $500…they can elect to surrender right away, or elect to wait and see what aftercare is required and then surrender if it’s not manageable for them.
jul 21, 2025, 11:38 pm • 0 0 • view
Only problem is the owners might not agree to release for treatment then.
jul 22, 2025, 12:59 am • 1 0 • view
True dat. It’s definitely a complex problem. Question then becomes discerning if it’s more effective to implement a solution that can cover 60-80% of the problematic situations and coax along the rest? Or implement a more absolute policy. Or something else entirely. It’s a lot to consider.
jul 22, 2025, 1:34 am • 0 0 • view
My heart breaks reading this. Poor Coco. I wish people understood how to love animals not be cruel. But I’m so grateful to follow all of the happy ones you save. It’s amazing.
jul 23, 2025, 3:32 am • 2 1 • view
Niall, it comes down to quality of life. Once the quality of life is diminished, the answer is easy. I compare it to getting chemo for cancer. Is it worth spending endless months of sickness to get a few extra minutes of life if your condition is terminal? Or is it better to focus on the moment?
jul 24, 2025, 2:30 am • 0 0 • view
Just read this in my email. What a difficult problem. You mentioned awhile back something about placing some emphasis on laws to help with the problem of humans being careless to the point of harm. Providing meds only to see them untouched has to be crazy frustrating. Will think on this.
jul 21, 2025, 4:19 pm • 6 1 • view
A dog who has not defacated in 16 days can’t be returned to owners under any circumstances.
jul 22, 2025, 1:01 am • 1 0 • view
You must get Coco. Do not stop trying. Do not return any of these dogs. I understand your mission is sterilization, but you should expand to include stop animal abuse, which is what these people are doing. You can’t knowingly return a dog to an abusive home. There are people out here who will adopt
jul 22, 2025, 12:58 am • 1 0 • view
Expand your adoption part of your mission. People will support it. Your mission seems to be to alleviate suffering. Don’t they have animal abuse laws in Thailand?
jul 22, 2025, 12:58 am • 2 0 • view
I would never be able to hold my temper as you do and I cannot comprehend how people can be so cruel and ignorant to treat a living being in such a way. You remind us that we can all be better💖
jul 21, 2025, 4:24 pm • 8 2 • view
It’s odd to me that someone would want to keep a dog and then not take care of it. Is it just ego or control ? No money for meds, I understand, but they were given the meds. Can you explain why surrender of so badly cared for dogs is such a problem?
jul 21, 2025, 8:59 pm • 1 1 • view
It is heartbreaking really, no excuse would work for neglecting a living creature. it hurts my soul to even read about this!
jul 21, 2025, 9:54 pm • 2 1 • view
Some owners state they keep their dogs for warning and security but I fail to see how a little dog like Coco could qualify for that. Many Thai are poor and have few possessions so maybe ownership of something is important to them.
jul 22, 2025, 7:42 am • 0 0 • view
I'm so, so sorry to hear this, Niall - big hug to you & team. My only thought is what you doubtless know: that while it is indeed *not* a Thai problem, it must be a Thai solution. Meaning the problem requires active participation of many more in your community; & partnering w/ Happy Doggo 1/2
jul 21, 2025, 11:27 pm • 3 1 • view
requires more than calling in to you to report distress somewhere. Pressure to listen & learn empathy & the true joy of owning a dog won't be effective unless it comes from many vocal citizens outside of Happy Doggo; it has to be seen & heard to come from friends, peers, colleagues, etc. who agree.
jul 21, 2025, 11:32 pm • 2 0 • view
Are people embarrassed to admit that taking proper care of a dog is too much for them?So they do nothing than admit a weakness? Have you had successes from returning dogs with meds and education?If not, keep educating the kids and in time things will get better, for now focus on dogs with no homes.
jul 21, 2025, 7:49 pm • 1 0 • view
Keep telling the stories & getting the word out. That’s how more people will be educated about these kind of happenings. This is how change starts. No matter how big or small the effort, in the bigger picture, it all adds up significantly, whether we see it or not. You’re making a difference! ❤️🐕❌🅾️🙏🏻❤️
jul 21, 2025, 10:54 pm • 1 0 • view
Any chance you could convince Coco‘s family to allow you to buy her back? I can’t believe they’re emotionally attached to a dog that they’ve left in cages un cared for, so perhaps money would talk.
jul 22, 2025, 7:49 pm • 0 0 • view
You are doing your best. Humans can be so vile. I follow a horse rescue in the USA that deals with the most horrendous neglect and abuse cases (some wilful - look up the story of Asombro at Rocking R Rescue) so its not just in Thailand. Big hugs (if that's your thing)and keep up your fantastic work
jul 21, 2025, 5:02 pm • 1 0 • view
Education is key but also compassion. Unfortunately these same offenders may just go out and get another dog to replace the ones you rescued.
jul 21, 2025, 4:52 pm • 4 0 • view
For those of us who love and value dogs, it's so difficult to control the anger when owners (selfishly) reject your offer to help. You've had so many success stories. Wish they could all be happy endings, but sadly, that's not the real world.
jul 21, 2025, 6:02 pm • 1 0 • view
It's hard to have all the answers. In the area, are there other shelters you can partner with? What about the city? The town? Does Thailand have "states?" You guys need help from others. All the $$$$ is not going to help a continuing problem which seems to be out of control. Education.
jul 21, 2025, 4:13 pm • 3 0 • view
Are residents with dogs/cats/ etc willing or interested in learning how to take care of their furry friends? 🤔🤔 The bad ones...euthanasia might be the more humane way to go.I hate saying that but,I was in a similar situation with my 2 doggies. Trying to save them, but making things worse. 😢
jul 21, 2025, 4:20 pm • 1 0 • view
24 years between the 2. I miss Kerouac and Shakti everyday.
jul 21, 2025, 4:21 pm • 3 0 • view
😢
jul 21, 2025, 4:22 pm • 0 0 • view
The most important part of your work is the sterilization/castrations you are doing. It will prevent a lot of this.
jul 21, 2025, 5:13 pm • 0 0 • view
Our local humane society will remove pets that are left outside regularly and are not being given fresh water and food. They have a special division anyone can call to report animal abuse, and the humane officers they dispatch can legally remove an animal.
jul 21, 2025, 11:01 pm • 1 0 • view
You are a hero, Niall, never doubt yourself And we certainly do not have any moral high ground to lecture the Thai from Animal abuse and neglect is ripe in the UK, I see it every day on my feed
jul 21, 2025, 5:02 pm • 0 0 • view
I get the anger...when I see the SPCA ads in the US asking for donations and they will give you a blanket or stuffed animal; I say just keep it; give me the abuser's address and I will supply my own baseball bat. On a less violent note; education, yes; legislation; absolutely. (1/2)
jul 21, 2025, 11:01 pm • 1 0 • view
Penalties that are financial are one thing, but if offenders have to work with you or other groups as punishment/restitution, it might work on the education issue...?
jul 21, 2025, 11:04 pm • 1 0 • view
Niall don’t doubt yourself, you are attacking this from all angles and educating the young will eventually have an effect along with sterilization. Your work with individual dogs gives you satisfaction and like throwing a starfish back into the sea, it will make a difference to that starfish.
jul 22, 2025, 7:49 am • 7 1 • view
Wish I knew the definitive answer.... we do animal transport in the southwest US to get animals out of dangerous conditions or kill shelters. I think we all do what we can, knowing much more needs to be done. Doing whatever we can has to be enough, otherwise we'll go crazy
jul 21, 2025, 4:09 pm • 37 4 • view
Thank you for helping with animal transport!
jul 21, 2025, 6:05 pm • 7 1 • view
I don't know what the legalities of this are, but if dogs are found in that state they probably shouldn't be going back to their owners. They've already demonstrated that they do not care for these animals, but I don't know whether that's easily done, especially if these owners can't admit mistakes.
jul 21, 2025, 8:46 pm • 3 0 • view
I don't know anything about the Thai government, or how laws are made there. But could there be some kind of PAC, or group formed that will make law-makers aware so that laws can be made to step in and remove abused animals? When you've done all you can, authorities could take over.
jul 23, 2025, 1:49 pm • 0 0 • view
It's the extreme stories like this that cut through and help the wider educative message to spread. Be in no doubt on that score. 🤗
jul 21, 2025, 5:02 pm • 0 0 • view
Not only working at a community level but pursuing a local government level and a Thailand government level I'm sure happy doggo pays some forms of property tax business taxes supports businesses who are building at the site etc this might be a way to approach this problem at the government levels
jul 21, 2025, 8:09 pm • 2 0 • view
Those who are at those levels are willing to listen if it is considered as some form of income to the government it gives you leverage
jul 21, 2025, 8:09 pm • 2 0 • view
Coco…💔
jul 21, 2025, 4:11 pm • 13 1 • view
I'm hoping they're able to get Coco out of there soon...
jul 21, 2025, 5:28 pm • 8 0 • view
Niall, my thoughts are you are a champion and if you have even the slightest chance to relieve the suffering of a dog, take it, even if it involves "the green dream". Every single time. ❤️
jul 21, 2025, 7:40 pm • 3 0 • view
we do what we can, you tried twice. hopefully they’ll soon can be shamed into surrendering coco by their own volition.
jul 21, 2025, 6:27 pm • 0 0 • view
Animal rescue stories are a sure-fire way of making me sad and tearful. However the reality is that many people simply don’t view pets in the same way as we do and are not empathetic towards them
jul 21, 2025, 6:51 pm • 1 0 • view
First of all, heart felt appreciation. Been a volunteer at shelters in the U.S. since the 70's. It goes on and on. And on. Even today I'll do a bit of love time at a local cat rescue. The cases you wrote about are so troubling. You did good. Keep on, take good care of you too.
jul 21, 2025, 4:23 pm • 27 1 • view
Thank you for volunteering at the shelters!
jul 21, 2025, 6:05 pm • 4 0 • view
It's a gift for me as well.
jul 21, 2025, 8:32 pm • 0 0 • view
It would be great if you coukd permanently remove these dogs from heir abusive lives permanently. Once an owner has an abused animal they should not get it back. Easier said than done. Humans don't deserve animals.
jul 26, 2025, 4:29 pm • 0 0 • view
You are doing wonderful work. Please remember all of the dogs you have been able to save and give good homes. Keep up the tough but wonderful work you and your staff do. Thank you for your kind hearts. You have made a difference in Thailand and all over the world.
jul 21, 2025, 4:32 pm • 13 3 • view
I just don't understand why people neglect animals but still won't sign them over. Poor Coco! We adopted a cat that had been neglected for 10 years! Most of him life spent left outside & ignored! We may have only had a few years with him but there was a lot of love & hugs in those years.
jul 22, 2025, 11:56 am • 2 0 • view
People are cruel. Dogs are pure. You're a good man for doing what you can to save the latter from the former, despite the infuriating situations you encounter along the way.
jul 21, 2025, 4:47 pm • 2 0 • view
I once had a dog trainer tell me the toughest animal to train was humans. You can’t beat on yourself for being hopeful that others will do the right thing with a little know how and support. Some people just won’t. That you’re there to pick up the pieces matters. We all believe in your work!
jul 22, 2025, 5:03 pm • 0 0 • view
😔🫶🏻
jul 22, 2025, 9:35 am • 1 0 • view