Kabang

Kabang (Visayan for "Spotty") is a shepherd mix aspin from Zamboanga City, Philippines, who became internationally famous and was described as a "hero dog" when she rescued two children from a potentially fatal motorcycle crash.[1][2]

For the district of Thailand, see Kabang District.
Kabang
Hero dog Kabang ready to go back to Philippines after surgeries and treatments June 2013
SpeciesCanis lupus familiaris
BreedAspin
SexFemale
Born (2008-02-29) February 29, 2008
Philippines
Nation fromFilipino
Known forSaving the lives of two children in a motorcycle accident
OwnerRudy Bunggal

Background

Kabang is a dog that was adopted by Rudi Bunggal as a stray puppy. In December 2011, Bunggal's 9-year-old daughter Dina and a 3-year-old cousin, Princess Diansing, attempted to cross a busy street in the path of a motorcycle. Seeing the danger, Kabang jumped at the motorcycle, knocking it over.[1] According to eyewitnesses, the girls did not see the motorcycle coming and would have been seriously injured if not for Kabang. The motorcycle driver and the children suffered only minor bruises from the accident.[2] Kabang, however, got caught in the front wheel of the motorcycle. "The bones holding her upper snout were crushed, and we could not do anything to save it", said Bunggal. "We just pulled her off the wheel".[2] Kabang ran off, but re-emerged at the family home about two weeks later.[1]

In the accident, Kabang had suffered extensive injuries to her nose and upper jaw but Bunggal refused to have the dog euthanized.[1][3] Kabang, heralded by the Philippine press as a hero, had difficulty eating but otherwise continued living normally and even became pregnant.[2][3] However, over time her open mouth led to an infection, and as long as it remained open she was at serious risk for further problems.[2] Kabang was given antibiotics, but repairing her face via surgery was beyond the means of the Bunggal family.[1]

In February 2012, Karen Kenngott, a nurse from upstate New York, saw Kabang's story on the Internet and decided to help. She organized a grassroots fundraiser called "Care for Kabang". Initial efforts were unsuccessful, but with the help of the Animal Welfare Coalition, the campaign was relaunched in the summer of 2012.[4] They met their goal within four weeks.[1] The campaign also greatly increased Kabang's fame internationally. "She has become a superstar," said Bunggal in July 2012. "People come here to have their photos taken with the dog."[2]

Kabang was brought to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis in the United States during October 2012 to undergo a specialized surgery.[3] Preliminary evaluations revealed that Kabang had heartworms and a transmissible venereal tumor, a type of cancer. She began chemotherapy a week after arriving.[4] Because of Kabang's preexisting conditions, surgery was delayed until March 2013 as she was treated. The surgery was a success and Kabang was released from UC Davis' care on June 3, 2013.[5] The $27,000 total cost of the treatments and surgery was paid for by donations from people in 47 different countries.[6]

Kabang arrived back in the Philippines on June 8, where she was given a hero's welcome in her home town of Zamboanga.[7] Veterinarian Anton Lim remarked "[Kabang is] as normal as she can be. She doesn't need any special medication. So aside from the aesthetic, she's normal."[8]

Further reading
PublicationTitleAuthorDate
Inquirer Global Nation[9]300 pets attend Kabang's ‘despedida’Nina CallejaOctober 8, 2012
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine[10]UC Davis WebsiteVeterinarian BiographiesRetrieved October 11, 2012
Huff Post San Francisco[11]Kabang, 'Hero Dog' That Lost Snout Saving Girls, Arrives In AmericaAP/The Huffington PostOctober 12, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle[12]Snout-less 'hero dog' Kabang arrives at UC DavisPeter FimriteOctober 12, 2012
Riehl World News[13]Kabang: ‘Hero Dog’ Lost Snout Saving 2 young Philippine children, now getting treatment at UC Davis thanks to web donationsDANOctober 13, 2012
Huff Post San Francisco[14]Kabang Dog Update: Snoutless Canine Has Surgery DelayedAP/The Huffington PostOctober 16, 2012
The Daily[15]Win by a noseStaffOctober 16, 2012
Veterinary Practice News[16]UC Davis Veterinarians Nurse Disfigured Dog Back to HealthClay JacksonMarch 21, 2013
GMA News Online[17]Hero dog Kabang to be released from US hospital next weekAndrei MedinaMay 29, 2013
Rappler.com[18]Hero dog Kabang back in PHRapplerJune 8, 2013
FilAm Star[19]Kabang journeys homeFederico EspirituJune 8, 2013
GMA News Online[20]Hero dog Kabang back in PHL after surgery in USAgence France Presse/ELR, GMA NewsJune 8, 2013
New York Daily News[21]Kabang: Dog that lost half her face returns home to hero's welcome in very own motorcade and award from mayorAP/nydailynews.comJune 10, 2013

References
  1. "Background Information". William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  2. "Kabang, Hero Dog Who Lost Her Snout Saving Two Girls, To Be Treated In US Hospital". Huffington Post. July 28, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  3. "PHL's hero dog Kabang soon to undergo $20,000 facial surgery in US". GMA News Online. October 9, 2012.
  4. "Timeline". William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  5. "The VMTH Treating Kabang the Hero Dog". William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  6. Daxim L. Lucas (June 9, 2013). "Saving 'Kabang'". Inquirer. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  7. "Philippine town honors dog injured saving 2 girls". WRAL-TV. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  8. "Hero dog Kabang back in PH". ABS-CBN News. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  9. Inquirer Global Nation .
  10. UC Davis School of Vet Medicine "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2012-10-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link).
  11. Huff Post San Francisco .
  12. San Francisco Chronicle .
  13. Riehl World News .
  14. Huff Post San Francisco .
  15. The Daily .
  16. Veterinary Practice News .
  17. GMA News Online .
  18. Rappler.com .
  19. FilAm Star .
  20. GMA News Online .
  21. New York Daily News .
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