Family Dog Shot In Des Moines During Burglary, Back Home
RENTON, Wash. – A Des Moines dog reunited with his family Sunday after being shot in a home invasion earlier this week.
Fitted with a cone, Rex limped out of an animal hospital in Renton after surgeons fitted the German Shepard with a pin and screw holding together one of his back legs.
Sixteen-year-old Javier Mercado says three men broke into his Des Moines home on Wednesday.
That’s when Javier heard Rex jump into action.
“And that’s when I heard one gunshot, and several after that one, and my dog cried after every gunshot that hit him,” said Mercado outside BluePearl Veterinary Partners Hospital on Sunday.
The Des Moines Police Department is investigating the Wednesday home invasion and a subsequent break-in that Javier’s mom says happened while Rex was in the hospital.
“The first one we were scared, the second one is worse,” said Julia Cadena, who says shoes, watches, and video games were stolen from them sometime between Wednesday and Friday.
The police do not have any suspects in custody at this time.
Doctors said Rex will likely develop arthritis in the future and may need physical therapy.
The community has raised nearly $60,000 towards Rex’s medical bills. For more information, click here.