GoFundMe
In the heat of the moment, dogs truly can be man’s best friend. They can smell fear, and usually react in the moment, with heroics like protecting kids lost in the desert or safeguard planes from crashing into the ground.
Rex, a German shepherd from Des Moines, Washington, sprung into action during a home invasion and took three bullets while protecting his teen owner.
When 16-year-old Javier Mercado was home alone last week, two armed intruders broke into the house in the middle of the afternoon. Javier jumped into a closet to hide with Rex and dialed 911. Rex sensed something was wrong and confronted the intruders, who “beat him bloody.” The dog retreated back to the closet with Mercado while the burglars ransacked the house.
When the pair reached the teen’s hideout, Rex protected the teen again and took at least three bullets. The criminals finally left after the sounds of sirens scared them off.
The police finally arrived, and medics transported the hero German shepherd to an emergency pet hospital. Doctors were able to stabilize the dog and perform life-saving surgery.
The family set up a GoFundMe page to pay for the expensive surgery and naturally hit their goal once word spread of Rex’s heroic journey.
Rex, the hero, returned home yesterday.
[via USA Today]