Kabang's Inspiring Story of Bravery and Sacrifice

Kabang, a small dog from the Philippines, became a hero after throwing herself in front of a motorcycle to save two children.

Kabang suffered severe injuries, including the loss of her jaw and teeth, but she managed to save the children's lives.

The incident occurred in 1974, when Kabang was just two years old, and it was a turning point in her life, as she became a symbol of bravery and loyalty.

Kabang's actions that day were truly remarkable, and she will always be remembered as a hero.

Kabang's selfless act of saving two young girls by running into the path of a motorcycle is truly inspiring.

The extent of her injuries was shocking, with a golf ball-size tumor on her vulva and a ghastly wound that required extensive surgery to repair.

Veterinarians discovered that Kabang had heartworm, a parasitic roundworm spread by mosquitoes that can cause congestive heart failure.

Kabang received six weekly intravenous chemotherapy infusions, antibiotics, and three powerful arsenic-based heartworm shots to treat her ailments.

The surgeries to repair her wounds were complex, involving the removal of her upper teeth, reconstruction of one eyelid, and the use of three skin flaps to close the wound.

Essentially, the surgical team advanced her lip to close her entire oral cavity, a unique procedure given that she didn't have an upper jaw at all.

Kabang was hailed as a hero after the accident, but she suffered extensive injuries to her nose and upper jaw.

She had difficulty eating, but otherwise continued living normally and even became pregnant.

However, her open mouth led to an infection, putting her at serious risk for further problems.

Kabang was given antibiotics, but repairing her face via surgery was beyond the means of the Bunggal family.

A nurse from upstate New York, Karen Kenngott, saw Kabang's story on the Internet and decided to help, organizing a grassroots fundraiser called "Care for Kabang".

The campaign met its goal within four weeks, thanks to the help of the Animal Welfare Coalition, and greatly increased Kabang's fame internationally.

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, requiring her to start chemotherapy a week after arriving.

The surgery was delayed until March 2013 due to Kabang's preexisting conditions, but was ultimately a success.

The $27,000 total cost of the treatments and surgery was paid for by donations from people in 47 different countries.

Kabang was released from UC Davis' care on June 3, 2013, and arrived back in the Philippines on June 8, 2013, where she was given a hero's welcome in her hometown of Zamboanga City.

Kabang's caretaker, Veterinarian Anton Lim, remarked that she was as normal as she could be, not needing any special medication aside from aesthetic care.

News of Kabang's heroic act spread like wildfire, and a grassroots fundraising campaign was launched to help her receive the wound-closing surgery she needed.

Donations poured in from 20 countries, enough to cover airfare and treatment costs.

Kabang's story was shared on Facebook, Twitter, and pet lovers' blogs, with careforkabang.com serving as a central hub for the fundraising effort.

Over $20,000 was raised in total, a testament to the power of social media and online communities.

Not everyone was supportive of the fundraising effort, however, with some critics arguing that the money could be better spent on more pressing global issues.

Videos by VICE played a significant role in Kabang's story going viral.

The incident where Kabang saved two girls' lives in 2011 turned her into a media sensation.

Her injury required urgent medical attention, and she went through seven months of rehabilitation at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California.

Kabang's story helped save her life and also inspired a rise in aspin adoptions in the Philippines.

Lim noted that "Love begets love. You get what you give", highlighting the importance of proper care for animals.

The project to honor Kabang with a monument was funded by an American family who are Kabang's fans.

Many people tried to get a glimpse of the statue as it was being sculpted, and some even turned up to take photos when it was transported to the park.

The monument will also serve as Kabang's tomb, allowing people to remember her legacy and what she did.

The fundraising campaign for Kabang, the hero dog, was a global effort that raised over $20,000 to pay for her wound-closing surgery.

Donations poured in from 20 countries, including airfare and treatment costs, allowing Kabang to receive the care she needed.

The campaign utilized social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, as well as a dedicated website, careforkabang.com, and pet lovers' blogs.

Some critics argued that the funds could be better spent on more pressing global issues, such as war, hunger, and global warming.

Despite the criticism, the owner, Rudy Bunggal, made the decision to proceed with the surgery, believing Kabang was God-sent and a beloved member of the family.