A German Shepherd, named Rex, who lives with his family in Washington state is being called a hero since last week. Rex, the adorable canine savior, put his puppy-life on the line to save his 16-year-old sibling, Javier.
It is this act of doggy-courage that is rightly earning Rex his heroic accolades.
Q13 Fox News reports that on Wednesday afternoon, Rex and Javier were all alone, when two thieves broke in.
Terrified, Javier ran upstairs and hid in a bedroom closet while he phoned the local police. Meanwhile, super-doggo Rex refused to back down in the name of fear. For Rex, his owner’s life was more important than his own in the moment.
Javier’s aunt later wrote online, that Rex confronted the intruders, who retorted by attacking the defending pupper. Rex then sought strategic retreat, though he was far from backing out of this life and death battle.
According to Susy Cadena, Javier’s aunt, ”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.”
The thieves proceeded to shoot at Rex, striking him at least three times before they cowardly fled the scene, leaving Javier unharmed. However, as the fight in the house ended, Rex, the hero dog, was entering into a new fight, the struggle for his own life.
As soon as police arrived on the scene, authorities rushed the brave canine to the BluePearl Veterinary Clinic in the town of Renton.
Rex was sedated and stabilized, but an expensive surgical procedure was needed in order to save his life, and Rex’s family couldn’t afford to provide the crucial care he needed on their own. So facing financial struggle and Rex’s sweet little life, hundreds of strangers responded to the call for assistance almost immediately.
Javier’s aunt started a GoFundMe page with a goal of $10,000 to cover Rex’s stifling medical costs. Just a few days later, more than $60,000 in donations had been collected to go towards saving Rex’s precious life. On Friday, Rex underwent the vital surgery that would help save his life for good. Happily, the surgery was an amazing success and Rex’s life was saved.
That following Sunday, Rex was released from the veterinary clinic with a clean bill of health. Rex is now back home with his family, surrounded by all the tender and loving care his bruised and beaten little body requires.
Rex’s family spoke with The Dodo not soon after:
“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 being 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.”
