Hero dog is canine ‘ambassador of goodwill’

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines   â€“ The shepherd-mix “Kabang,” who lost her upper snout saving two girls, returned yesterday to her owner’s home after eight months of veterinary treatment in the United States, earning a new title as “dog ambassador of goodwill.”

Kabang will not be surrendered by her master for adoption to anybody. Before she became a hero dog, she had been her master’s “lucky charm” in business.

Her owner, 58-year-old Rudy Bunggal, said many customers came to his vulcanizing shop when the hero dog was with him. But when she left, his business slowed down and he started to suffer financial difficulty.

“Even before the accident and during her horrifying injuries, Kabang was really a lucky charm to me. I had a lot of customers in my small vulcanizing shop. But when she left us, life (became) so difficult,” Bunggal said.

He had to shift to selling bundles of kangkong (water spinach) and doing construction work to provide for his family’s daily needs.

“I will not (anymore allow Kabang to be adopted). We will take care of her at home,” he said.

Bunggal also said his family will not take advantage of Kabang’s popularity and gave assurance that the hero dog will be given fair attention even if they are also taking care of “Junior,” one of Kabang’s pups that is now a grownup dog.

This, however, raised eyebrows in the neighborhood that is curious as to how the Bunggal family, who only squat in a vacant lot along the village of Canelar Presa, will be able to provide for the needs of the hero dog.

Bunggal shrugged off talks about his family’s capacity, saying that feeding Kabang was never been an issue in his household.

“Kabang will always have a special place for us,” he added.

On Saturday, two-year-old Kabang, her tail wagging, faced television cameras and fans at Manila International airport and toured a nearby upscale shopping mall and park frequented by dog lovers. She was an instant star.

Authorities are planning a short motorcade today in honor of Kabang, which means “different colors” in the local dialect of Zamboanga.

“What we want is to make her a dog ambassador of goodwill, and to promote responsible pet ownership,” said Anton Lim, a veterinarian who accompanied Kabang to the University of California in Davis for surgery.

US doctors closed her facial wound but could no longer save and reconstruct her nose. She also survived a cancerous tumor and heartworm.

Last year, Kabang jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle to save her master’s daughter and granddaughter from collision. People from around the world donated lunch money to raise $27,000 for her medical treatment abroad.