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Rex, shot multiple times protecting teen, gets 'heroic dog award'

SEATTLE, Wash. — A dog who was shot four times protecting a teenager during a horrific home invasion will get an award for his bravery.

>> Related: Hero dog takes bullet for teenager in Des Moines home invasion

When burglars violently broke into the Des Moines home in February, a teenager hid in a closet and held on to his dog.

But Rex — a 2-year-old German shepherd — ran downstairs to protect the 16-year-old.

The dog confronted the burglars, who beat him until he was bloody. The dog ran back upstairs.

With the dog out of sight, the home invasion continued as the two burglars trashed the house room by room. When they entered the bedroom where the teen and the dog were hiding in the closet, and the teen was on the phone with 911, the dog stood up to them with the little strength he had left.

>> Related: Police: Des Moines teen calls 911 from closet during home invasion

He threw himself at the burglars, the teen's family wrote on a GoFundMe page, and was shot four times in the neck, leg and knee.

As the sound of sirens became audible, the burglars ran away.

Officers found smashed sliding door glass when they went into the home to get the teen outside safely. They also found Rex, who at first looked dead.

While SWAT team officers looked for the suspects, Rex was taken to the animal hospital.

He was eventually taken to BluePearl, where he is in the veterinary intensive care unit, receiving pain medication, antibiotics and wound care, with round-the-clock monitoring of his vital signs.
After making it through the night, the dog is now in stable condition.

Rex was in surgery for hours.

As Rex recovered, people on social media took to calling him a "hero dog" for intervening between the burglars and the teenager.

"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," family member Susy Cadena said on the GoFundMe page.

"Our family cannot 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," Cadena said.

>> Related: Dogs separated at adoption randomly find each other at Pike Place Market 

Rex left the hospital at the end of the month, but police are still searching for the gunman. Meanwhile, PETA is bestowing Rex with a "heroic dog award."

"In risking his life to protect his young guardian, this brave dog demonstrated how intelligent and sensitive animals are," said PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien.

PETA is also offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the gunman.

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