Hero dog Kabang now ready for reconstructive facial surgeries

Finally, after undergoing a series of cancer and heartworm treatments since last year, Philippine hero dog Kabang is finally ready to undergo reconstructive facial surgeries in the United States. According to a post on the Care for Kabang Facebook group, Kabang finished her heartworm treatment at the University of California–Davis on Friday. “Yesterday, it was determined that Kabang's heartworm has been successfully completed and that she is now healthy enough to proceed to her surgeries,” Care for Kabang said. "Dates for her surgeries will be set next month," the group said. The group also mentioned that Kabang recovered without any complications after being spayed. The hero dog first gained international recognition after stories of how she saved two girls from being run over by a speeding motorcycle in November 2011 became viral through social media sites. Kabang paid a high price for saving the two girls in Zamboanga City, losing her upper jaw and mouth in the incident. Donations poured in from around the world for her facial surgery which costs an estimated $20,000 (roughly Php815,000). When she arrived in the United States last year, initial tests showed that she had genital tumor and heartworm which had to be treated first before she could undergo facial surgery. Kabang went through multiple chemotherapy sessions and was declared cancer-free in December last year. She has now completed her heartworm treatment and will be having facial surgery to prevent infection of her gaping wound. Kabang was named one of the top 10 hero dogs of 2012 for her heroic deed. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News