Post date: Jun 08, 2013 4:9:45 PM
A dog who lost her snout while saving two girls in a traffic mishap is greeted by animal lovers in an outdoor mall in Manila. Her heroism has been lauded as a symbol of loyalty, prompting calls for responsible pet ownership in the Philippines.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 8, 2013) (REUTERS) - It was hero's welcome for a dog who has been credited with saving the lives of two girls in the Philippines on Saturday (June 8).
Returning back from California, where the dog received treatment for its life-threatening injuries, Kabang was welcomed back home by dogs and animal lovers at an outdoor mall in Manila.Kabang is the shepherd-mix whose snout was ripped off in December 2011 when she jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle that was on the verge of hitting two girls, in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
The accident ripped off the entire top of Kabang's snout, including her nose and jaw, leaving a wound that was vulnerable to infection.
With limited veterinarian expertise in the Philippines to deal with the dogs injuries, Kabang's future looked bleak.
That all changed after a private organization, 'Care for Kabang', managed to raise 27,000 US dollars from the general public enabling the animal to travel toCalifornia, to have the much needed surgical treatment.
The dog's heroism moved thousands of supporters, making Kabang a local canine celebrity.
Animal Welfare Coalition, the Philippine organization who helped get Kabang to the U.S., is planning to build on the dogs new found celebrity status and is grooming the dog to become a canine ambassador for animal rights.
"There's no such thing as going too far for your dog, because your dog will go very very far for you. So there's no such thing as going too far. Twenty-seven thousand - it doesn't matter. You have to reciprocate," said dog owner and member of the coalition, Chin Consunji.
Though the animal remains snoutless, the dog's wound is sealed and protected against infection and Kabang is fully capable of an active life when she returns to her family in Zamboanga province.
A motorcade is being planned to welcome the hero dog back home on Sunday (June 9), in Zamboanga.