German Shepherd risks his life to protect his young owner from armed robbers
Meet Javier Mercado and his devoted dog Rex, an incredibly brave German Shepherd who leaped into action to protect his human when armed intruders decided to enter their home without permission.
This dog knows when it’s time to jump into action.
As you can see in the last two pictures, Rex is usually a pretty calm and loving pup.
He clearly loves his human very much and is willing to put his own life on the line to prove it, and recently he did just that.
Apparently, when 16-year-old Javier heard the intruders, he ran and hid in the closet. He was scared and didn’t know if the robbers had guns or weapons on them. Unfortunately, they did.
After Javier hid himself, he could hear his German Shepherd attack the intruders.
According to the story on YouTube – Mercado said:
“I heard the sliding door break and my dog ran downstairs and started barking and barking. I heard one guy scream, ‘the dog bit me, get the dog.'”
This is probably what Rex looked like as the glass broke, just before he bolted down the stairs to eat some intruders!
The intruders responded by badly beating Rex until he was bleeding and ran back upstairs to check on Javier.
When the robbers were done thrashing the downstairs, they went up to the next floor where the German Shepherd was devotedly standing guard over the closet.
Clearly, the robbers thought they had nothing to worry about with the beaten dog… until they got too close.
“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,” Javier’s aunt, Susy Cadena, wrote on a GoFund Me page.
Rex certainly succeeded in protecting his young owner, but not without taking on some damage in the process.
And when I say damage in the process, I mean he was beaten and then shot at least three times according to an article published by The Dodo.
The vet’s had to perform surgery in order to save the German Shepherd from his injuries.
Once the authorities arrived, they rushed Rex to the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Renton, Washington. It was going to take a lot to save him.
Rex’s family started a GoFund Me to raise money for his surgeries and physical therapy, and the worldwide community of dog lovers stepped up to the plate in a huge way!
The account that Javier’s aunt gave of Rex’s fierce loyalty inspired thousands of people to donate, raising over $60,000 to cover all of the dog’s medical costs.
Luckily, Rex was strong and the vets were talented. By the following Sunday, Rex got to go home where he belongs. By the looks of things, he will have a bit of recovery time before he is going to be ready for another battle like this one.
Don’t doubt for one second that this wonderful family of dog lovers will do whatever it takes to nurse Rex back to good health. Especially after what he did for Javier!
Rex’s family told The Dodo:
“Thanks to God, Rex is doing much better. It’s going to take a lot of therapy, time and lots of love from all of us for him to go back to be the sweet dog he used to be. But don’t doubt for a minute that we will do everything in our power to help him get there soon.”
This is the kind of love that every dog deserves and every dog owner should strive for.
Hopefully, Rex and Javier have many, many more years to be there for each other. Though, something tells us that it’s highly unlikely that this bond will ever be broken.
One thing is absolutely 100% certain: Rex is a hero dog.
While you will find plenty of stories with the forever loyal German Shepherd as the hero, there are quite a few canine breeds that will keep you feeling safe and secure.
One type is the Staffordshire Terrier, also known as the “Pit Bull.”
These dogs have carried a “tough guy” stigma about them as long as they have been a breed. Look at this fine specimen sitting in front of the door, focused on whoever is approaching. Not sure any intruders want to enter uninvited into this house.
There are many types of dog breeds that different people will swear by for home protection.
Take a look at the loyal and terrifying to run from, Doberman Pinscher.
If anyone asks me what kind of dog to get to keep their family and belongings safe it’s this smiley guy right here. Huge teeth, long legs to run a person down with, and a relentless drive to not give up until the bad guys are whimpering in fear… and maybe a little pain!
If you think you’d like to look into adopting a specific dog breed, you can find recommendations on guard dogs from AKC.org if you are not sure where to begin.
Just remember that it’s our job to protect them, too. So invest in an actual security system so your dog will hopefully never have to put its life on the line to save yours.
To learn more about Rex’s incredible act of bravery, watch the video below.
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