I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams. - Spider-Man 2
We are all superhero aficionados especially when we are needy, when we are in great fear, when we think that the world forgets us, we think of someone who is strong and brave enough to save and help us.
The story of Kabang, the Philippines very own hero dog lead and proved that our ideal superhero image may change.
In December 2011, two girls were crossing Nuñez Extension not knowing that a motorcycle was approaching on them. Seeing the danger in that crucial moment, Kabang immediately jumped into the motorcycle and knocked it out. The two girls were left unharmed. The motorcycle driver is unharmed too but treated in the hospital for minor bruises. The hero dog, however, got caught in the frontwheel of the motorcycle
We are all superhero aficionados especially when we are needy, when we are in great fear, when we think that the world forgets us, we think of someone who is strong and brave enough to save and help us.
The story of Kabang, the Philippines very own hero dog lead and proved that our ideal superhero image may change.
In December 2011, two girls were crossing Nuñez Extension not knowing that a motorcycle was approaching on them. Seeing the danger in that crucial moment, Kabang immediately jumped into the motorcycle and knocked it out. The two girls were left unharmed. The motorcycle driver is unharmed too but treated in the hospital for minor bruises. The hero dog, however, got caught in the frontwheel of the motorcycle
Rudy Bunggal the owner of Kabang said, “The bones holding her upper snout were crushed, and we could not do anything to save it",. They just pulled Kabang off the motorcycle wheel but it immediately ran off, and emerged at the family home about two weeks later.
According to some witnesses, Kabang shielded the two girls from harm.
Eyewitness Jovito Urpiano was eating in an eatery on his noontime break from driving a tricycle and saw how Kabang stopped the motorcycle from hitting the girls. In an interview made by PDI, he thought somebody threw the dog on the motorcycle, but I could not see anyone who might have done that, but he soon realize that Kabang had intentionally blocked the motorcycle’s path to save the girls.
The dog’s head landed directly on the motorcycle’s front wheel, and as it rolled, her snout got stuck in it. The hero dog suffered extensive injuries to her nose and upper jaw but Bunggal refused to have the dog euthanized.
According to some witnesses, Kabang shielded the two girls from harm.
Eyewitness Jovito Urpiano was eating in an eatery on his noontime break from driving a tricycle and saw how Kabang stopped the motorcycle from hitting the girls. In an interview made by PDI, he thought somebody threw the dog on the motorcycle, but I could not see anyone who might have done that, but he soon realize that Kabang had intentionally blocked the motorcycle’s path to save the girls.
The dog’s head landed directly on the motorcycle’s front wheel, and as it rolled, her snout got stuck in it. The hero dog suffered extensive injuries to her nose and upper jaw but Bunggal refused to have the dog euthanized.
From the usual superhero with superpower story, Kabang is not different he came from a poor family, yet he was treated as if member of the family. Bunggal said the dog’s heroic act might have been because of her closeness to Dina, the daughter of Rudy and Princess her cousin. They found Kabang as a puppy near their house a year ago. The family raised her as if they owned her. They give her Bear Brand, a milk brand and porridge. Buying milk for the dog is a big deal to the family as they only earn 150 per day, but the family never thinks Kabang as additional burden to the family.
As Kabang grew, she was fed he same food that the family ate. Dina and Princess always played with the dog and even sleep together with it.
The story of Kabang was a big story in the Philippines declaring him as a hero dog, this media commendation gave way for helping her medication.
As Kabang grew, she was fed he same food that the family ate. Dina and Princess always played with the dog and even sleep together with it.
The story of Kabang was a big story in the Philippines declaring him as a hero dog, this media commendation gave way for helping her medication.
Karen Kenngott, a nurse from New York, saw Kabang’s story on the internet and decided to help. Kenngott organized a fundraiser called “CAREFORKABANG”, their initial effort was unsuccessful however with the help of Animal Welfare Coalition, the campaign was relaunched in the summer of 2012. Within four weeks, they met their goal.
Kabang become a global superstar, people come to see her and take pictures
On October 2012, Kabang was brought to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis in the United States to undergo a specialized surgery.
Preliminary evaluations revealed that Kabang had heartworms and a transmissible venereal tumor, a type of cancer. She began chemotherapy a week after arriving. Due to 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. The US$27,000 total cost of the treatments and surgery was paid for by donations from people in 47 different countries.
Kabang arrived back in the Philippines on June 8, where she was given a hero's welcome in her home town of Zamboanga. Veterinarian Anthon 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."
Kabang become a global superstar, people come to see her and take pictures
On October 2012, Kabang was brought to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis in the United States to undergo a specialized surgery.
Preliminary evaluations revealed that Kabang had heartworms and a transmissible venereal tumor, a type of cancer. She began chemotherapy a week after arriving. Due to 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. The US$27,000 total cost of the treatments and surgery was paid for by donations from people in 47 different countries.
Kabang arrived back in the Philippines on June 8, where she was given a hero's welcome in her home town of Zamboanga. Veterinarian Anthon 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."
We often materialize heroes as the man or the woman of great strength, the one who could lift a bus to not fall off the cliff, the one who could fly, the hero who is on the side of justice, the one who fights the crazy villains in the busy streets of towns and cities, we always ignore the little things our real hero did, take for example our parents, they are the real man and woman of steel!. They were there in our hardest times. Another is the persons who are responsible for our convenience, for our safety, they are just around, unknown, yet as Kabang did, always ready when you are in trouble.
