Kabang the Hero Dog Loses Snout, Steals Our Hearts
Heros often come in small packages. Although Kabang the dog didn't jump from space like extreme skydiver Felix Baumgartner, her small, courageous Earth-bound leap has clenched an orbit around our hearts.
It began a few months ago, when Nine year old Dina Bunggal was charged, as usual, to keep her cousin, little 3-year old Princess Diansing safe, as they crossed the very busy intersection in Zamboanga City, Philippines. An inattentive motorcyclist bore down on them as they stepped onto the street, but it wasn't Dina who protected the young pair. It was the family dog, Kabang, who threw herself between them, at a devastatingly painful price.
Dina's father Rudy, who works at a nearby shop, saw the tragedy unfold before him. The german shepherd mix that Rudy and his wife Christina took in as a stray puppy bolted onto the road, launching herself head on into the rapidly spinning front wheel of the motorcycle, throwing the rider off balance and toppling the machine.
The driver got up with only minor injuries. Dina and Princess were left untouched but shaken. Kabang, however, did not get off so lucky for her heroic efforts, losing her entire snout and upper jaw as the motorcycle flipped with her nose stuck in the wheel.
Jovito Urpiano, an onlooker who saw the accident unfold right before his eyes, states that he believes Kabang knew the dangers, never hesitating in her action to save the girls. As onlookers ran to the scene and freed what was left of Kabang, improbably, the little dog got up and bolted, leaving behind her bloody, ruined nose and upper jaw. And what many thought was the only chance to save her.
Two weeks later, Kabang returned home, with a face difficult to look upon without heart-ripping emotion. She had suffered through incredible pain in silence far from those who loved her, who wanted no more than to throw their arms around Kabang and thank her for making, without thought or hesitation, such a sacrifice.
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