Dog Shot Protecting Teen During Home Invasion
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 10 months ago
A 16-year-old boy says his dog made all the difference when armed intruders busted into his house on Wednesday. It happened just after noon, in the 1400 block of South 234th Street in Des Moines.
Javier Mercado was home alone with his German Shepherd, Rex. He gives his loyal companion all the credit for saving his life.
“I feel like if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today telling you this story,” said Mercado.
He says around noon, he heard a noise and looked out a window. He saw a car he did not recognize.
“I heard the sliding door break, and it is made out of just glass so it shattered really loud,” said Mercado. “My dog ran downstairs, and it just started barking and barking. I heard one guy scream, ‘the dog bit me, get the dog.'”
Javier grabbed his cell phone, hid in a closet, and called 911.
“I could hear my dog, like, really close to me in the bathroom with me, just barking. And the man comes upstairs,” said Mercado. “I heard one gunshot and several after that, and my dog just cried after every shot that hit him.”
He wanted to rush to Rex’s side, but the dispatcher told him not to.
“I thought he was dead for sure. I broke down,” said Mercado.
By the time police officers arrived, the intruders were gone. Mercado spent nearly an hour hiding in a closet before it was safe to come out.
Then he received a call telling him Rex was still alive. His dog had been taken to BluePearl, an emergency pet hospital, in Renton. Rex had gunshot wounds in his neck and hind legs that required surgery.
For Mercado, the relief that his dog even survived was followed by the reality that his family does not have the money to pay for Rex’s medical bills.
“I was worried, my parents were worried. My dad said he was going to start working every Saturday, saving up,” said Mercado.
But in a short amount of time family, friends and the community have come through with a fundraiser for Rex. A GoFundMe page was started, and already thousands of dollars have been raised.
Mercado is so grateful. All of his focus right now is on his German Shepherd.
“That he just pulls through everything and comes home,” said Mercado.
That’s his hope for Rex, now hailed the “Hero Dog.”
I have a very big, very soft spot in my heart for dogs. The first time I read this article my initial thought was, “Let me tell you something boy, don’t you ever hide in a closet while a faithful dog takes the fall for you. I’ll step in front of my dog to keep her from being shot. You’d better go get yourself a gun right now.”
But then I re-read the article, and he is a teen. He can’t have a gun. The dog is a hero. Dogs are faithful. Got dogs?
On February 24, 2018 at 11:43 pm, Coyote Hubbard said:
“By the time police officers arrived, the intruders were gone. Mercado spent nearly an hour hiding in a closet before it was safe to come out.”
Says it all right there.
On February 25, 2018 at 7:10 am, MamaLiberty said:
A 16 year old should most certainly have had a gun, or access to one, in a situation like that. If he was unreliable, he shouldn’t have been home alone. Anyone who actually can’t be trusted with a gun needs a 24/7 guardian or a rubber room.
On February 25, 2018 at 7:21 am, Jack said:
My 14 year old blind weimaraner would jump in front of her 8 year old step-brother, she’s that protective.
As much as a pain in the butt they can be when the destroy the house, I don’t know if I could live without them.
On February 25, 2018 at 10:18 am, DAN III said:
No home should be without the love and loyalty of a faithful dog.
“Got dogs?” Yep. Hope I never am without.
On February 25, 2018 at 10:44 am, Pat Hines said:
Right now we have two dogs, have had as many as four at the same time.
Our very fierce Plott Hound, Freida, about three years old and very much the Alpha dog, and our 8 month old Doberman boy, Burkhard (Burk for short), who is shaping up nicely. Watching Burk open the kiddie gate to the kitchen was an eye opener, he picked it up and moved it out from the latch hooks, just like I do. Linda and I have had to block him from doing that, otherwise, it’s like there’s no gate.
No dog will allow you to be in front of them when they’re in protection mode, it’s actually hard to have enough control over them if that’s the situation. As I type this on my desk top computer, I have no fewer than five firearms within arms reach. Not that I keep that many routinely, usually it’s only two or three. When I’m out on the deck with the lap top I usually only have one near me, the dogs may or may not be out there with me.
On February 25, 2018 at 11:18 am, Jim Wiseman said:
Dogs in law enforcement are always treated as officers (and their lives are valued more than yours, but we all know about that.) This dog is every bit the hero as any police dog.
On February 25, 2018 at 2:19 pm, Pat Hines said:
@Mr. Wiseman, you’re so right.
It’s my opinion that we should demand laws prohibiting the use of dogs by police and other law enforcement. “Drug dogs” are trained to alert on command to avoid the requirement for search warrants.
On February 25, 2018 at 3:41 pm, Randolph Scott said:
If a squirrel or cat try’s to attack us then my English Bulldog can handle it, other wise the home defense is mine. With people all he does is chase the shadows and sniff people. He’s a handsome dog but definitely not a guard dog.
On February 25, 2018 at 3:54 pm, Will said:
Jim and Pat: Yes, shoot a K9 and it’s murder yet they can and do shoot our dogs with impunity because “scerred” or “I feered for my life”, even when they are wagging their tails. Just one more reason to think 98% of all officers are fine outstanding citizens. Hi Darrell!