I really enjoy the intelligence and protective nature of dogs, especially sheep herding dogs, which have the responsibility of watching over their flock and protecting them from harm.
The heroic Great Pyrenees herding dog that saved the sheep by fighting off 11 wild coyotes recently made headlines.
Homeowner John Wierwille reported that he initially spooked off the coyotes, but they returned later that night. A pack of coyotes made an appearance at his home in Decatur, Georgia on November 3.
He was thankfully able to defend the flock against the attacking coyotes thanks to his 20-month-old Great Pyrenees.
In order to protect his flock, Casper fought hard for 30 minutes against the coyotes. He killed 8 of them, but also suffered injuries in the process.
Casper took off after the remaining coyotes, leaving the owner fearful that he had lost his dog. Upon searching, John discovered the dog to be alive but severely injured.
“He looked like death, I mean he looked terrible,” John told 11Alive. “He came back home and he just kind of looked at me like ‘boss stop looking at how bad I look, just take care of me.’”
Casper suffered serious injuries to his back and neck, and also lost his tail. Vets and family were initially unsure if Casper would make it, saying he was found in “bad, bad condition.”
Casper has been recovering slowly but steadily despite the odds against him.
“He’s lucky to be alive,” said Dr. Susan Brosman of LifeLine Animal Project.
“He looks great now, he’s in good spirits,” added clinic supervisor Maisie Hale. “I love him. He’s such a good boy.”
Despite his still-short recovery time, Casper is in good spirits now and is being called a hero by the community. Casper’s medical bills will cost about $15,000 to $20,000.
“He’s a hero for sure,” Dr. Brosman said.
Our best wishes go out to the heroic dog Casper – thank you for defending these sheep!
