DECATUR, Ga. — Stacked up against all odds and a pack of 11 coyotes, an underdog hero became a savior after he fought off the pack of vicious animals to save the livestock at his Decatur home.
Now, he is being widely celebrated for his heroism.
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The hero farm dog won the American Farm Bureau’s “Farm Dog of the Year: People’s Choice Pup” award, taking home a trophy plate and Purina products. Casper also received a $1,000 cash prize that his owner donated to the Lifeline Animal Project, the shelter that cared for him after his attack.
“Thank you also to everyone who voted for our brave, determined and goofy livestock protector. We are proud of Casper and glad he has a long life of doing what he loves ahead of him,” said his owner, John Wierwille, in a social media post.
11Alive brought readers the story of Casper in December 2022 after he was attacked around 9 p.m. on Nov. 3 when a few coyotes came near the house. At just 20 months old, the Great Pyrenees knew exactly what to do.
Wierwille, Casper’s owner, said he was awakened by barking and went outside to see his two dogs, Casper and Daisy, backing the sheep up in the corner to keep them safe. Casper then charged into the middle of the pack in a scrum between the animals that lasted roughly 30 minutes. He killed eight coyotes.
Casper had multiple surgeries to close up wounds on his neck and back and even one to amputate his tail following the attack.
“It’s really good to remember that Casper has come so far in the last year. Except for his missing tail, you would not know that he suffered any trauma at all,” Wierwille said in a previous social media post.
Over 100,000 people voted online in the People's Choice Pup part of the competition, according to a release. And of those votes, Casper stood out as the winner.
The Great Pyrenees also stands alongside Georgia farm dog Skippy, who snagged the Farm Dog of the Year award for helping move beef cattle.
“It has been a pleasure partnering with Purina for the sixth annual Farm Dog of the Year contest, providing the public a glimpse of daily life on the farm,” said America Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall in a release. “Although farmers and ranchers love what they do, it’s well known that farming can be stressful. Farm dogs can help ease the burden because they often play a dual role as both working dogs and companions to farm families.”