Group denies PHL hero dog Kabang has a new owner

The group "Care for Kabang," which spearheaded the fundraising last year for the surgery of Philippine hero dog Kabang, denied that the dog has a new owner. The group belied a newspaper report saying that Kabang's ownership has been permanently transferred to Dr. Anton Lim, the Filipino veterinarian who accompanied the dog to the US.

 

“Perhaps some of you have seen this article published yesterday in the Philippines that states Kabang's ownership has been transferred permanently to Dr. Lim. This is false,” the group posted on their official Facebook page.

 

The group was referring to a story of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday citing Lim as saying that “Kabang may no longer go back to her original owner or master. She is coming home to us.” "This entire article is a misunderstanding and was taken out of context - confirmed by Dr. Lim and the journalist last night," Care for Kabang said.

 

Lim has been looking after Kabang while she is in the United States for her surgery and other medical examinations.  Care for Kabang clarified that Rudy Bunggal, Kabang's owner, only signed a Power of Attorney to allow Lim to make medical decisions on Kabang's conditions, and not a permanent transfer of ownership as the article claimed.

 

“That is not the case,” Care for Kabang reiterated, adding that they, including Lim, have made a commitment to help Bunggal care for the dog for the rest of her life.

 

“She [Kabang] is Mang Rudy's dog. Period!” the group added. The group explained that before Kabang came to the University of California-Davis in the US, "Mang Rudy feared for her life because so many other vets were telling him to euthanize her. He didn't want that and was reluctant to let anyone take her, but finally consented to Dr. Lim's request to hand her over to him so he could take her to UC Davis."  Coming home soon

 

Care for Kabang also said Kabang will be coming back to the Philippines soon as a “perfectly healthy” dog who has been cured of cancer and heartworm disease. She is expected to return home in the middle of the year after she completely recovers from her facial reconstructive surgery.  

Her dental and facial problems have also been taken cared of after her final surgery which took place in March.

 

Kabang was named one of the world's top 10 most heroic dogs of 2012 after saving two young girls in Zamboangga from being run over by a speeding motorcycle in December 2011.

 

After putting herself in harm's way, Kabang's snout and upper jaw were ripped off but the girls were unharmed.  

The hero dog was flown to the US for surgery at the UC-Davis last year with the help of Care for Kabang, which raised around $20,000 for her surgery. -  VVP, GMA News