{{Short description|Dog from the Philippines}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{For|the district of Thailand|Kabang District}} {{Infobox animal | name = Kabang | image = Kabang-LetsGoHome.jpg | image_size = | caption = Kabang in June 2013 | othername = | species = ''Canis lupus familiaris'' | breed = Aspin | gender = Female | birth_date = {{birth date|2008|02|29}} | birth_place = Zamboanga City, Philippines | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|05|17|2008|02|29|mf=yes}} | death_place = | resting_place = Zamboanga City | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = Philippines | known = Saving the lives of two children in a motorcycle accident | awards = | title = | owner = Rudy Banggal | children = | weight = | height = | appearance = | namedafter = | website =
}}
'''Kabang''' (February 29, 2008 – May 17, 2021) was 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.<ref name=UC_Davis_background>{{cite web|title=Background Information|publisher=William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital|url=http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/background.cfm|access-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620032448/http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/background.cfm|archive-date=June 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Huff />
== Life == === Motorcycle accident === Kabang was a dog that was adopted by Rudy 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.<ref name=UC_Davis_background /> 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.<ref name=Huff>{{cite news|title=Kabang, Hero Dog Who Lost Her Snout Saving Two Girls, To Be Treated In US Hospital|work=Huffington Post|date=July 28, 2012|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/28/hero-dog_n_1707013.html|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref> 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".<ref name=Huff /> Kabang ran off, but re-emerged at the family home about two weeks later.<ref name=UC_Davis_background />
=== Recognition and recovery === thumb|Kabang depicted on a 2023 stamp In the accident, Kabang had suffered extensive injuries to her nose and upper jaw but Bunggal refused to have the dog euthanized.<ref name=UC_Davis_background /><ref name=GMA>{{cite news | url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/277446/pinoyabroad/news/phl-s-hero-dog-kabang-soon-to-undergo-20-000-facial-surgery-in-us | title = PHL's hero dog Kabang soon to undergo $20,000 facial surgery in US | work= GMA News Online | date = October 9, 2012 }}</ref> Kabang, heralded by the Philippine press as a hero, had difficulty eating but otherwise continued living normally and even became pregnant.<ref name=Huff /><ref name=GMA /> 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.<ref name=Huff /> Kabang was given antibiotics, but repairing her face via surgery was beyond the means of the Bunggal family.<ref name=UC_Davis_background />
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.<ref name=timeline /> They met their goal within four weeks.<ref name=UC_Davis_background /> 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."<ref name=Huff />
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.<ref name=GMA /> Preliminary evaluations revealed that Kabang had heartworms and a transmissible venereal tumor, a type of cancer. She began chemotherapy a week after arriving.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|title=Timeline|publisher=William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital|url=http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/timeline.cfm|access-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620032430/http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/timeline.cfm|archive-date=June 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Because of Kabang's preexisting conditions, surgery was delayed until March 2013 when she was treated. The surgery was a success and Kabang was released from UC Davis' care on June 3, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=The VMTH Treating Kabang the Hero Dog|publisher=William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital|url=http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/index.cfm|access-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620032426/http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/kabang/index.cfm|archive-date=June 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The $27,000 total cost of the treatments and surgery was paid for by donations from people in 47 different countries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Saving 'Kabang'|author=Daxim L. Lucas|date=June 9, 2013|work=Inquirer|url=http://business.inquirer.net/126153/saving-kabang|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
Kabang arrived back in the Philippines on June 8, 2013, where she was given a hero's welcome in her hometown of Zamboanga City.<ref name="wral">{{cite news|url=http://www.wral.com/philippine-town-honors-dog-injured-saving-2-girls/12534278/|title=Philippine town honors dog injured saving 2 girls|work=WRAL-TV|access-date=June 11, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620032444/http://www.wral.com/philippine-town-honors-dog-injured-saving-2-girls/12534278/|archive-date=June 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Veterinarian Anton Lim, Kabang's caretaker,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Madarang |first1=Catalina Ricci S. |title=Memorial marker for hero dog Kabang to pay homage to 'humility' of aspins |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/05/27/192706/memorial-marker-for-hero-dog-kabang-to-pay-homage-to-humility-of-aspins/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |work=Interaksyon |date=27 May 2021}}</ref> remarked "[Kabang is] as normal as she can be. She doesn't need any special medication. So aside from the aesthetic, she's normal."<ref name=ABS>{{cite news|title=Hero dog Kabang back in PH|work=ABS-CBN News|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/06/08/13/hero-dog-kabang-back-ph|date=June 8, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
=== Death and legacy === Kabang died in her sleep on May 17, 2021, at the age of 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/05/17/kabang-filipino-hero-dog-uc-davis-vet-med-dies/|title=Kabang, Filipino Hero Dog Who Was Treated At UC Davis, Dies In Her Sleep At 13|first=Cecilio|last=Padilla|work=CBS Sacramento|date=May 17, 2021|access-date=May 17, 2021}}</ref> She was buried near a statue of Francis of Assisi in Zamboanga City in July 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zamboanga's hero dog 'Kabang' laid to rest |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/07/02/21/zamboanga-hero-dog-kabang-burial |access-date=September 18, 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> An aluminum statue in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City, was inaugurated on August 13, 2021, in her honor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1401710/zamboangas-hero-dog-honored-with-statue|title=Zamboanga's hero dog honored with statue|first=Julie|last=Alipala|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=March 2, 2021|access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/5/19/Kabang-memorial-statue.html|title=Kabang to get memorial statue|work=CNN Philippines|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519163849/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/5/19/Kabang-memorial-statue.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kabang, 'aspin' that saved 2 girls, honored with statue in Zamboanga City |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/philippine-street-dog-aspin-kabang-that-saved-girls-honored-statue-zamboanga/ |access-date=August 16, 2021 |work=Rappler |date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Kabang was included in the book ''Dogs in Philippine History'', which chronicles the key moments since the first domesticated dogs appeared in the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madarang |first=Catalina Ricci S. |date=2023-03-21 |title=New book chronicles dogs in cultural, historical moments in Philippine history |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/hobbies-interests/2023/03/21/246426/new-book-chronicles-dogs-in-cultural-historical-moments-in-philippine-history/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Interaksyon |language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, she was depicted in the "Dogs in Philippine History Special Stamps" stamp set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jreyes0314 |date=2023-11-15 |title=PHLPost launches 'Dogs in Philippine History Special Stamps' |url=https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/phlpost-launches-dogs-in-philippine-history-special-stamps/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == * List of individual dogs
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Individual dogs Category:Individual animals in the Philippines Category:2021 animal deaths Category:2008 animal births Category:Dog monuments