_ Sixteen-year-old Javier Mercado was home alone in Des Moines, Washington, when he heard glass shattering. As soon as he suspected burglars had broken into his home, he hid inside a wardrobe and called the police. But his German Shepherd Rex was determined to take on the intruders — and put his own life at risk in the process. Rex barked a lot and bit one of the intruders to keep them away from Javier’s hiding spot. Despite sustaining four gun shot wounds and injuring his hind legs, Rex managed to fend off the armed intruders, who fled the scene when they heard police sirens. Thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, Rex’s family has raised almost $60,000 to pay for the dog’s medical care
He wrote:
Today we witnessed the most beautiful and unconditional love. Rex the héroe dog, a member of our family risked his life and took three gunshots as he protected his human best friend , his master, his brother while their house got vandalized with them inside. Today mid afternoon my cousin’s house was broken into by two lowlifes who terrorized my 16 year old nephew and his German Sheppard, Rex. My nephew hid in the bedroom closet as he frightened, held as hard as he could to his barking Dog. Rex’s instinct to protect his home and his best friend, took him downstairs and he attacked the burglars. Both of the burglars struggled and beat him up with whatever they could. Rex stormed back to the upstairs floor all beat up and bloody from the beating to check on his master who was still hiding in the closet. Soon, the burglars proceeded to the upstairs floor and trashed all the bedrooms. As they entered the room where my nephew 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. Sadly they shot Rex 4 times and finally Rex, the héroe dog gave up in his battle. It was the sirens who scared them away. My nephew was protected by his eternal friend until the last bit of strength he had in him to do what his unconditional, loving instinct told him to. Rex’s life depends on a surgery he will need to survive. My cousin has already paid a big sum of money as Rex needed a lot of scans and X-rays and other urgent medicine work up to stabilize him. Every dollar helps. Please, our family can not let Rex the hero dog go without us fighting as hard as he did, to his very last bit of a strength while protecting my nephew. Thank you for your help.