Niall Harbison with street dog

Our story

Happy Doggo started in early 2021 with the simple act of feeding a few hungry street dogs on Sunday mornings. But this small kindness captivated the hearts of people all over the world and was the catalyst for a much bigger movement.

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The making of Happy Doggo

What started as one man on a moped is now a global organization, with employees, partners, and volunteers all over the world.

2021

Humble beginnings

In early 2021, Niall Harbison was recovering from a near-death experience caused by substance abuse. In an effort to get back on track, he started jogging around Koh Samui, Thailand.

Observing many malnourished dogs, he started bringing food to some and sharing the videos online.

Niall Harbison at Happy Doggo land
Happy doggo sterilization with Soi Dog
2022

Building momentum

Niall's videos started to attract the attention of people all over the world who wanted to help.

He began feeding and vaccinating as many dogs as he could, but he quickly realized that sterilization was the only way to fix the problem long-term.

2023

Going global

In 2023, Niall travelled to Europe, The US, and Dubai organizing walks where dog lovers could meet up, chat, and take in the sights.

Thousands of people turned up and one lucky shelter dog even got rescued.

Niall Harbison dog walks
Happy Doggo Land
Today

Creating a sanctuary

Meanwhile, there were still hundreds of sick street dogs with nowhere to go.

Niall secured a piece of land and set about making a sanctuary for dogs to recuperate, taking in only the most sick and vulnerable dogs.

The making of Happy Doggo

What started as one man on a moped is now a global organization, with employees, partners, and volunteers all over the world.

Humble beginnings

In early 2021, Niall Harbison was recovering from a near-death experience caused by substance abuse. In an effort to get back on track, he started jogging around Koh Samui, Thailand.

Observing many malnourished dogs, he started bringing food to some and sharing the videos online.

Building momentum

Niall's videos started to attract the attention of people all over the world who wanted to help. He began feeding and vaccinating as many dogs as he could, but he quickly realized that sterilization was the only way to fix the problem long-term.

Going global

In 2023 Niall travelled to Europe, The US, and Dubai to promote his book. While there, he organized walks for dog lovers to meet up, chat, and take in the sights.

Thousands of people turned up and one lucky shelter dog even got rescued.

Creating a sanctuary

Meanwhile, there were still hundreds of sick street dogs with nowhere to go. So, Niall secured a piece of land and set about making a sanctuary for dogs to recuperate.

Niall holding three puppies in his arms

Happy Doggo team

The people behind the scenes, tackling the street dog problem from their laptops.

Niall Harbison
CEO
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The founder and mastermind behind Happy Doggo, Niall is on the ground rescuing, feeding, and sterilizing dogs, and providing our board with the critical insights they need to tackle the street dog problem effectively.

Lindsay Angus
COO
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With a background in early-stage tech companies, Lindsay ensures that we have the systems and processes in place to scale quickly and make the biggest impact. From sterilizations to adoptions, Lindsay is behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly.

Anna Sedgley
CFO
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Anna is a world-class CFO with a wealth of experience who is here to help Happy Doggo scale up globally. You may also know her as Moritz's mum, one of the original dogs who came to Happy Doggo land.

Meghan Hill
Lead Videographer
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If you've seen a Happy Doggo video on the internet, then you already know Meghan's work! An extremely passionate and talented video editor, Meghan helps us tell the stories of all the dogs we help.

Ploy
Grant & Partnerships Manager
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Ploy manages our sterilization program and builds relationships with partners and the community. If you see someone chasing dogs across a muddy field, it's likely Ploy! Her energy and dedication ensure all doggies are well cared for and loved 🩷

Keshia Badalge
Content Marketing Manager
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Keshia creates the stories you read across social media and helps everyone keep up with the dogs on HappyDoggo land and beyond. Her greatest joy in life is being the sister of a golden retriever, Super Shandi. She knows how one dog can change the world.

Kerryn Loesner
Director of Corporate Partnerships
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A dedicated fundraiser with an extensive fundraising background, Kerryn specializes in securing funding through corporate sponsorship and gift-in-kind donations. Her role as Director of Corporate Philanthropy will help the mission of Happy Doggo make a lasting impact.

Marcy Doozan
Development Director, Grants & Foundations
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Marcy is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 25 years of experience, including 13 years as Executive Director of a major conservation organization in Indiana. Passionate about conservation and social justice, she has traveled extensively in East and South Africa. Marcy's motto is: “We must do what we can to leave the world a better place than we found it.”

Our charity

Happy Doggo is a registered UK Charity and US 501(c)(3), founded in 2023.

Our aim is to reduce the suffering of dogs worldwide, with particular focus on Thailand and South East Asia. We are privileged to have a diverse group of trustees, each of whom lend their unique expertise to guide Happy Doggo’s growth.

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Board + advisors

Our work wouldn't be possible without the guidance, dedication, and experience of our advisors and trustees.

UK

Christopher Reynolds
Trustee
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A lifelong dog-lover and entrepreneur, Chris has dedicated the last few years of his life to raising money for dog shelters in the UK and abroad.

Tayla Blue
Trustee
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One of Niall's earliest supporters, Tayla has used her social media influence and expertise to raise over $30,000 to help make Happy Doggo a reality.

Stefan Bender
Trustee
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As the CEO of a global community of expats, Stefan knows how to build a thriving community and effectively scale an online business.

US

Michael Londra
Trustee
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As a fellow Irishman, Michael was a very early supporter of Niall’s work in Thailand. Seeing how quickly Happy Doggo was growing, Michael reached out to offer support with media, PR, and any logistical challenges Niall might face getting a charity set up in the US. With his extensive network and great media connections, he was an easy choice to be the first director for Happy Doggo US.

Chris Larkin
Trustee
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Chris originally reached out to Happy Doggo to offer support with research, impact assessments, or design as she has a wealth of experience working with non-profits as the Managing Director of a non-profit design studio. After a few initial conversations, it was obvious that Chris would be an incredible addition to the Happy Doggo board and we were lucky enough to have her sign on as our second Director.

Randi Windheim
Trustee
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Randi got connected to Happy Doggo through her son, an expat living and working in the non-profit sector in Bangkok. With over 30 years of teaching experience and over a decade managing a charitable trust, Randi has extensive knowledge of non-profit operations. After retiring from teaching in 2023, Randi agreed to join the Happy Doggo board as our third Director.

Stay up to date with Happy Doggo

Contact

Niall holding three puppies in his arms

We love hearing from all people, and we do our best to get back to everyone.

For all general enquiries, please use the address below.

Niall Harbison

If you have questions about donations, fundraising, or donating a physical gift, please use the email address below.

If you're interested in fostering or adopting any of our amazing dogs, please complete an adoption application or email us at the address below.