Casper, a 20-month-old Great Pyrenees from Decatur, Georgia, is what we would call a good boy. He's also a very brave one. In fact, he's a hero.
Because when a band of coyotes turned up to feast on the flock of sheep Casper protects, this tough dog didn't even think about backing down or running away. Instead, Casper stepped up and said, "not on my watch."
The odds were not in Casper's favour
The sheepdog faced off against 11 coyotes, according to a report by CBS News. And when the battle was over, only three of them were left standing. That's right, Casper took down eight coyotes and made the rest run off in terror. Incredible.
Casper didn't escape unscathed. Casper had some of his skin and part of his tail torn off while furiously defending the sheep. Casper required several surgeries, including one to close up an open neck wound. He was then kept in for observation. Nurses also administered a course of antibiotics and other medication to prevent an infection.
Casper is expected to make a full recovery, although he may need some skin grafts in the future. A GoFundMe campaign to cover Casper's vet bill and future treatment costs raised more than $15,000 in a week.
The hero returns
Casper is back on the farm and will be on light duties for the foreseeable future. Casper's dad, John Wierwille, said his furry hero was a little tentative and nervous at first. But a few days later Casper was barking at squirrels while standing guard by the living room window. So it looks like he's going to be just fine.
"It's a remarkable story," said Wierwiller. "But we've always known that Casper is a remarkable dog. We're so proud of him and so relieved that he's OK. That's the most important thing."
