Friday, July 6, 2012

Kabang: A Salute to the Canine Heroine

Kabang the Hero Dog

Meet Kabang, the courageous canine hero who lost her upper snout after saving two girls from being hit by a speeding motorcycle. Her heroic act was featured in the news for several weeks and her story touched the hearts of many people including yours truly. Seeing her wasn't actually part of the itinerary when we visited Zamboanga City but it turned out to be one of the best highlights of our trip to Asia's Latin city. It was only then when I had learned that the heroine dog was actually just less than a few kilometers away from where we are staying.

Kabang the Hero Dog

After finishing our dessert at Myrna's Bake House in Pueblo, we asked the staff from the bakeshop if they happen to know where we could find this dog. Fortunately they know where she is and they were kind enough to show us the directions and even fetched us a tricycle to take us to Nunez St. And after a 15-minute ride, we finally arrived at the vulcanizing shop where Kabang is. She's very shy though and I couldn't even see her face at first because she keeps on lowering her head from us. Guess she's still not used to getting the attention of many people around her.

Kabang the Hero Dog

Admittedly, I am a person who's not used to seeing blood or open wounds and couldn't even tolerate seeing one but upon meeting Kabang, I never experienced any form disgust at all or even got scared with her condition. What I only felt was sympathy for the dog and all that I wanted to do during that moment was to hug her. Even my travel buddy and fellow Bakasyonista Ghe never grossed out with Kabang's appearance.

Kabang the Hero Dog

I got to talk to one of the locals (He's the one with the cap. Sorry, I forgot his name) but according to him, Kabang not only saved the lives of his master's daughter and niece but her popularity also paved the way for his owner, Mang Rudy  to finally reunite with his long lost mother after not seeing her for 41 years! It was said that Mang Rudy's mother thought that he was already dead after he left home but after seeing him on the news that featured Kabang, she was surprised to know that he is still alive and the rest is a sweet family reunion. Truly this dog is heaven sent.

We stayed at the vulcanizing shop for about an hour and was surprised to see a lot of people coming over to visit her. It's touching to see a lot of them bringing food and giving donations for the dog owner and his family but what's surprising is that Mang Rudy only gives the food to his canine heroine and they never consumed any of it. He says the dog deserves all the treatment and the rewards since it was her that saved him and his family.

Kabang the Hero Dog

Seeing the pink sands of Great Sta. Cruz island was supposed to be the main highlight of my trip to Zamboanga but getting the chance to finally meet this heroine dog definitely tops it off. I'm actually not the type of traveler who goes to see the popular tourist spots with the purpose of taking pictures of it so I can just post in on Facebook. What defines me as a traveler is to experience various types of cultures and meet different types of people which is way more valuable than anything else. And to be humbled upon seeing Kabang in person is definitely the one of the main reasons why that trip to Zamboanga will always be memorable to me.

Latest news about Kabang:
Kabang has already given birth to 6 puppies and is now under the custody of the Animal Welfare Coalition. She is scheduled to be flown to the US for surgery in an effort to fix her upper snout and give the proper treatment to her wounds so that she could live longer. Let us pray for her successful operation and sooner recovery.

22 comments:

  1. tsk tsk, i remember those moments i shared in batanes and catanduanes.... hoping that US surgery be done asap...

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  2. awww... a very touching story. this post just made my day. the news goes viral on the net. Buti naman at ooperahin na siya sa US.

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  3. *I wept. I love dogs, and seing dogs with/o his upper stout just made me cry :( Thank you for posting this. She is truly a blessing.

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  4. Wishing her the very BEST

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  5. Is there a way we can get updates on Kabang.
    What a truly incredible dog!!!!!!!

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  6. What a story...very touching. What a HERO.
    Everyday I have more respect for animals and in particular dogs. The loyalty of this animals towards people.
    Animals give us lessons everyday.

    I hope Kabang will recover from surgery and can live a long and normal life.

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  7. Please keep us posted on the status of this beautiful dog. God bless Kabang and may her surgery to restore her snout be successful because she deserves to live the life of a normal dog and be able to use her nose and mouth the way a dog should. God bless her with a speedy recovery and may she return swiftly to her puppies for lots of joy and a speedy recovery.

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  8. Where can we donate to her cause?

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  9. Thanks for your concern about Kabang. If you'd really like to contribute to Kabang's care you can contact the Animal Welfare Coalition to get a reliable update and instructions. You can email them at this address: animalwelfarecoalition@animalwelfare.com.ph. I've been getting a lot of inquiries on how to help Kabang but I have no direct contact with the people handling her operation and this is the only information that I have. :)

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  10. What a beautiful dog, Kabang, I pray that all will be well for her surgery. Goes to show you the human-race can learn a lot from this wonderful creature. Animals should be treated with respect and kindness, they have more feelings for life than some of the so called humans in the world.

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  11. What an incredible story.I hope Kabang gets the finest medical care she can and go home to mother her own puppies. Anyone would be proud to have a pet like her.

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  12. God has sent a special dog to them for a reason

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  13. I love animals, this story truly made me cry, I hope, the doctors,could save this poor dog, this dog is really an angel

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  14. Made me cry and remember my Millie who I had to put down in April of this year. She would have been 14 in August. She is missed by her sister. I hope Kabang lives a long and happy life like Millie did. Thank God, these people didn't have her put down. Now she has a chance to begin over and being a mom at that. Try to keep one of her puppies upon her return so she can be a mom. Dogs are great teachers if only the world would listen to them. Kabang: Perhaps someday we will meet at the Rainbow Bridge on our way to heaven. Thanks for your example.

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  15. Marissa T of IndianaAugust 3, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    This is just another example of why dog is called "man's best friend." This heart-warming story reminds me of another saying, "Only a dog (and maybe a parent) will give up its life trying to save yours." Animals enrich the lives of humans in so many ways. I hope Kabang gets the surgery she needs and deserves ASAP -- her gaping wounds have already been open to infection for 6 months, so she needs help ASAP ! I wonder whether her breathing is more difficult since the upper snout is missing ?

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  16. Catherine Royle of Shawnigan Lake, BCAugust 15, 2012 at 7:43 AM

    She truly is a beautiful dog! How blessed this family is to have her in their lives. I'm too looking forward to her progress!

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  17. I can not send any money, but I will definitely pray that the money will be raised for the treatment of this amazing dog.

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  18. She deserves to stay in the US and i hope her pups got to come with her and to be spayed.
    Amazing dog!

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  19. Does anyone know if this dog had her surgery

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  20. Any update about Kabang?

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