Heroic dog now a mama

Kabang, the dog who lost her upper snout saving two girls from a speeding motorcycle here last December, breastfeeds her six puppies. JULIE S. ALIPALA/Inquirer Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Kabang, the dog who lost her upper snout saving two girls from a speeding motorcycle here last December, is now a mama.

The dog, which has become a heroine not only for the family that raised her but thousands of other people, gave birth to six healthy puppies — a female and five males —  Friday night, Dr. Grace Jimenea, officer of the City Pound Center, said.

Jimenea said Kabang started showing birthing signs as early as Thursday but it was only on Friday afternoon “that she became totally restless and anxious.”

Kabang was taken to the city pound a week ago in preparation for major surgery abroad to restore her upper snout, which she lost when she lunged at a speeding motorcycle that was fast bearing down on her young master and a cousin as they were crossing a street. The dog’s snout was shattered and had to be cut off after it got entangled in the spokes of the motorcycle’s front wheel.

Jimenea and several others assisted her during her delivery.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jimenea said, the first puppy emerged. The five others followed one by one in a process that lasted three hours.

“All six puppies were successfully delivered. Kabang did everything on her own, including the cleaning of the puppies and the removal of their umbilical cords,” she said.

Jimenea said her role and  those of the other animal experts were confined to feeding and securing the puppies.

Kabang was pregnant when she blocked the speeding motorcycle so it would not hit her young masters, cousins Dina Bunggal, 11, and Princess Diansing, 3.

She had a miscarriage after the accident but soon after, she became pregnant anew.

“This actually is her first experience at motherhood,” Jimenea said.

She said Kabang might have to stay longer at the city pound because she was showing signs of anemia after giving birth.

“We are giving her iron supplement,” Jimenea said.

“She is very protective of her puppies, despite her limitations. Even though she was struggling to use her lower snout, she would lick her puppies,” veterinarian Joel Carbonilla said.