Dog Without Snout Kabang Beats Cancer

A dog who lost her snout while saving two children appears to have beaten cancer, the animal's vet has said.

The dog, named Kabang, reportedly jumped into the path of a speeding motorcycle that was about to hit two young girls - the daughter and niece of her owner - in the Philippines.

The crash took off Kabang's snout and her complete upper jaw.

With help from a fundraising campaign, Kabang was flown to the University of California Davis' Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for treatment in October.

But on top of the gaping wound in her face, Kabang was also found to be suffering from vaginal cancer and required chemotherapy, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Gina Davis with the University of California said there has now been some good news for Kabang following the treatment.

"There is no evidence of any remaining tumour," she told the San Francisco Chronicle. "As far as we know she has been cured of the transmissible venereal tumour."

Kabang still faces treatment for heartworms in her arteries before she can have her facial wound treated.

Karen Kenngott, a nurse from New York state, led the campaign to bring Kabang to the US.

More than $20,000 (£12,400) was donated from 20 countries in the online campaign to improve her quality of life.

Kabang was given a special mass, a three-hour motorcade and 300 dogs attended a send-off ceremony before her flight to California on October 8.

The Chronicle said the extraordinary journey of Kabang began nearly two years ago when Rudy Bunggal, 57, discovered the then abandoned puppy in a paddy field.

It said Mr Bunggal kept the animal with the intention of fattening her up and feeding her to his family, but his daughter, Dina, 11, and niece, Princess, three, grew close to the dog.

They named her Kabang, which means "spotty" in their native Visayan language and the dog became protective of the girls.

Now known as "hero dog" in the Philippines, Kabang even has a website to explain her injuries and help gain further funds for medical care.