Edik, the Ukrainian Dog Boy

Like Oxana Malaya, Edik is not a feral child but suffered severe neglect at the hands of alcoholic parents (or, in this case, just his mother).

Edik lived with dogs

Edik was found by social workers apparently living with stray dogs in an apartment in Mirny, Ukraine. Although Edik's younger sister Nadia was cared for by neighbours, he was left to make his own arrangements. His mother did stay in the apartment from from time to time, but her alcoholism meant he was pretty much left to fend for himself, and so he found company and affection with the dogs.

Edik's development

Edik was 4 when found, and had spent 2 years or so living in these conditions. By the time he reached 6, the time he'd spent with a foster family meant his language was developing, albeit slowly, and had reached the level of a 3-year-old. Apparently, it took months to teach him to eat, wear clothes and behave normally, and even longer for him to develop an ability to relate to other people and empathise with them.