LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas community sprung into action to help a veteran who lost nearly everything this summer.
When 16-year veteran Brian Germany suffered from a heat-related illness, he was taken to the hospital, his car was towed, and his dog was taken to the animal shelter.
Germany and his dog, Buster, had been together for five years when they were ripped apart in a matter of minutes.
“I was going crazy. Completely. I was thinking he was gone forever,” Germany says.
Germany was on his way to California from Colorado and decided to stop at Lake Mead to rest for a couple of days when he was overcome by this summer’s record-breaking temperatures.
Next thing he knew, he was lying face first on the ground with Buster by his side.
“He was nudging me with his nose trying to get me to get up. I was laying on the ground outside the car,” he says.
Germany was taken in an ambulance to the Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center. His car was taken to Quality Towing’s tow yard. Buster was taken by animal control to The Animal Foundation.
Left without Buster, with his car racking up thousands in impound fees, his friend posted his story on Facebook, and the Las Vegas community responded.
“He fought for our country, he’s a veteran, he’s older, he needs our help,” Shannen Loo says, who jumped into action to help.
Shannen offered to foster Buster to get him out of the shelter, while Germany was staying at the Salvation Army shelter and couldn’t get Buster himself.
Loo and others continued to share Germany’s story. Eventually, Councilwoman Victoria Seaman’s team got word about what was going on, and was able to get Germany’s car released for free.
“My chief of staff actually went down there and told them of the situation,” Seaman says. “Finally, we find out that they went ahead and they waived the fees.”
The help didn’t stop there, Loo made a GoFundMe and donations from the community poured in.
“I kept telling him, ‘oh my gosh, we got this, we got a couch, we got a TV now, oh my gosh we’re getting more GoFundMe,’” Loo says.
Germany and Buster have now moved into a new apartment in North Las Vegas, furnished with love by a community he now plans to call home.
“You know, I’m usually the giver not the receiver. I’ve helped a lot of people. It’s easier to give than it is to receive,” Germany says.
His Gofundme is still active, Loo says he will use any money raised to get his car’s engine checked, and to pay for groceries and rent.
You can find the GoFundMe here.
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