Udon Thani: Toddler drowns, grandfather kills family dog in grief

A two year old boy drowned in a village pond in Udon Thani province, leading to the emotional and controversial killing of his dog by the child’s grandfather.

Thanwa was found lifeless in a pond behind a noodle shop in Non Saeng Chan village. He lived with his grandparents while his parents worked in another province. According to the grandfather, the young boy had followed their dog, Nhu Dam, towards the pond before accidentally drowning.

The grandfather, overwhelmed with anger and grief, blamed the dog for leading Thanwa to his death and subsequently killed the dog by hitting it on the head with a piece of wood, then disposed of the body in a nearby stream.

The family initially did not request an autopsy for Thanwa. However, due to the mysterious circumstances of his death, police considered conducting a post-mortem examination. Ultimately, the grandparents’ lack of suspicion led the police to forego the autopsy.

Thanwa’s cremation took place today, and the family mourned the loss privately. Despite the tragic circumstances, the grandfather refused to speak to the press but admitted to the police that he had indeed killed Nhu Dam, though he did not disclose the location of the dog’s body. Later, villagers found Nhu Dam’s body floating in the stream, about 30 metres from the shore, confirming the grandfather’s confession.

Thanwa’s grandmother, Tukta, shared that she believed the dog had indeed led Thanwa to the pond, resulting in his accidental fall and drowning. She reiterated that there was no foul play involved in Thanwa’s death and that the child simply followed the dog and fell in.

Animal cruelty

Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) expressed its condolences for both Thanwa and Nhu Dam, acknowledging their untimely deaths. The foundation, however, emphasised that the grandfather’s actions could not be overlooked. WDT coordinated with the local police to ensure that the grandfather faced charges of animal cruelty. The arrest is expected to occur following Thanwa’s funeral.

“We cannot exempt Thanwa’s grandfather from the consequences of brutally killing Nhu Dam out of anger. The dog, beloved by Thanwa, did not deserve such a fate.”

They also highlighted the importance of addressing animal cruelty seriously and ensuring that justice is served.

Furthermore, Sergeant Ekaphan Layking, head of the Nong Han rescue unit, plans to retrieve Nhu Dam’s body from the stream. The body will be examined for injuries before being buried properly, ensuring some dignity in the dog’s tragic end, reported KhaoSod.