fbpx
Connect with us

College Voices

Heroic Dog Is Shot When Protecting Beloved Owner From Intruder

Published

on

GoFundMe | Help Save Rex The Hero Dog

This heart-wrenching story of a dog giving up his safety to spare his owner’s life has proved the compassion dogs can have for their loved ones. This loyalty was brought to the surface when armed intruders broke into a family home in Iowa on February. The residents in the house at the time of the break-in were 16-year-old Javier Mercado and Rex, his German Shepherd.

Javier Mercado and his German Shepard were home alone during a burglary.
GoFundMe | Help Save Rex The Heroe Dog

“I then heard the sliding door break, and it is made out of just glass so it shattered really loud. My dog ran downstairs, and it just started barking and barking. I heard one guy scream, ‘the dog bit me, get the dog.’” said Mercado.

Mercado dialed 9-1-1 after hearing the racket and hid in a closet, waiting for the intruder to leave the home. He stayed in the closet for an hour before hearing police sirens, which scared away the intruders. When Mercado made it to Rex, he found four gunshot wounds on his brave hero.

“Soon, the burglars proceeded to the upstairs floor and trashed all the bedrooms. As they entered the room where Javier was hiding in the closet, Rex came out with the little strength he had left in him and threw himself at them as he knew my nephew was in danger,” Javier’s aunt wrote on her GoFundMe post when describing what happened.

Rex was taken to the hospital and treated for gunshot wounds to his neck and legs. This required expensive surgeries and would have taken a huge toll on Mercado’s financial savings if his family, friends, and community members had not graciously set up a GoFundMe account, raising enough money to pay for the urgent medical care.

Javier kisses his dog Rex on the forehead as they lay on the hospital floor.
GoFundMe | Help Save Rex The Heroe Dog

Currently undergoing physical therapy and therapy for post-traumatic stress, Rex is recovering from the intrusion very well. But there are still many bills that need to be paid to continue helping in his recovery. If you would like to show your appreciation for Rex’s compassion and loyalty, you can donate to the GoFundMe. To continue to learn about how Rex is recovering, there are also constant updates on Rex’s progress on his Facebook page.

By: Sydney Murphy