EXCLUSIVE: Liam Gallagher’s sweet adoption story of a street dog from Thailand melted the hearts of the public last year and now the man who rescued the animal has opened up on the moment
Niall Harbison’s stories of street dogs in Thailand have been keeping social media users enthralled since his move to the Asian country in 2022. The Irish native upped sticks and set up a charity in a bid to help the thousands of animals in need.
Its rapid growth now sees his Happy Doggo organisation to sterilise 7,000 dogs and feed 300,000 each month. However, it’s his rescue stories that continue to capture the attention of his audience.
With around five million followers across platforms, with 1.3million watching his Instagram content, Niall boasts a number of high-profile names as his followers, including Gemma Atkinson, Sam Fender, Charlie Lawson and Ruth Langsford.
But it was when one certain name reached out to him in an adoption enquiry that Niall thought someone was on a wind-up. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Niall admitted Britpop icon Liam Gallagher’s online form surprised him.
And he admitted within minutes he knew the type of person he was dealing with – and was more than happy to let dog Buttons “win the jackpot”.
After explaining the surreal moment of seeing the Gallagher household looking to adopt Buttons, Niall confessed it seemed strange talking to Liam on a Zoom call to vet his character. “Up popped Liam Gallagher on the screen with his partner,” Niall said. “I’m asking him questions, thinking ‘this is nuts’, but was really funny was, I thought ‘it must be the wife that’s watching this on Instagram and she’s dragged him in to make sure they get the dog’.
“But then he started to open up [about the other dogs on Niall’s social media]. It was a real mind blower to be honest.
“He’s a real funny, just genuine dog lover, you know? He’s just very, very funny and loves the dogs.”
The former head chef went on: “It would have been tricky if you got a celebrity and they weren’t [suitable]. We’d have to say no. But with him, it wasn’t even a question. The only question was they had a couple of cats so we had to test Buttons with a couple of cats to make sure, but he was the ideal owner, I’d say.”
And he joked that he felt like saying to Liam that he is “softening” his reputation. “I think people who like dogs just melt. It makes you see a different side to people, absolutely.”
And Niall’s link-up with Liam didn’t end there, with the singer playing his part in helping to keep the organisation carrying out its work. Last year he made an impressive £25,000 donation.
“I’ve never asked him to do anything,” Niall revealed. “But they have donated to the hospital. He did a tour and they had a big ball on the middle of the tour, like a globe, and they auctioned that off at the end of the tour for £25,000, which was just mind blowing and they donated the money to the hospital.
“In terms of adopting, it wasn’t just adopting the dog, it was everything else they’ve done and they’re very nice people.”
At the time of the adoption, Niall shared Buttons’ journey on social media. He wrote: “I get messages from him and his lovely partner and they are besotted by little Buttons….Well done little Buttons. You were brave enough to invite yourself in looking for a better life and look at you now on the telly with a rock star dad.”
Niall was talking to the Mirror ahead of the launch of his second book titled Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World. His first book, Hope: How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life, became an international best seller.
His latest offering follows the story of a dog Niall came across that was shackled to a short chain and in a poor state of health. It was a scenario that reminded him of his personal battle with addiction and he knew he had to rescue her immediately.
Despite her terrible treatment at the hands of humans, she refused to distrust them and only opened her heart wider. Following her death last year, Tina has inspired Niall to create a sanctuary for dogs to recuperate, and the idea for Tina’s hospital was born.
The book also touches on other heartwarming stories from Niall’s time in Thailand, including with Internet famous pooches, Alba and Cindy Crawford. Both animals went viral as Niall shared their story with his followers.
All proceeds from the book will go towards continuing to build the hospital. Speaking of the set-up, Niall said: “Tina was a great part of my life. We’ve actually got the hospital working at the moment. The big hospital is being built.
“But the field hospital is up and running and operating on dogs in there. But it’s built all around Tina’s grave. It’s been very hard to get it this far, but Tina’s right there beside it so I just look at her every day. There’s dogs being treated right beside where she used to hang out in the hammock so it’s come full circle and I’ve kept my promise to her.”
Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World is available to purchase from May 8.
Source: Mirror
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