This is Casper. Casper is a good dog. There should be more like him.
Casper on the mend after fending off pack of coyotes in Decatur
Via MSN
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Great Pyrenees livestock dog Casper is still recovering after a violent encounter with a pack of coyotes nearly a month ago in their Laurel Ridge neighborhood in Decatur.
“I can’t even explain how good it is to see him right now because I felt like there was no way he was going to live when I saw him,” said John Weirville, an Urban Shepherd and owner of the landscaping business Ewe Can Do It Naturally.
Weirville’s landscaping company leases out flocks of his sheep to clear away brush from properties, utilizing the natural instincts of sheep to munch on that brush.
Weirville says 2-year-old Casper was standing guard over his flock of sheep one late night in early November when about 10 coyotes got too close for comfort.
“I could see the coyotes running around in this area. When I got over this way, then Casper took off,” said Weirville.
Casper managed to kill eight of the coyotes, saving the sheep in his care, but in the process was badly hurt. He had gaping wounds to his neck and side – and his tail had to be docked. There were a few days the vets and staff at Lifeline Animal Project worried recovery wouldn’t be an option.
“How bad are these wounds and is it something that can be fixed? Or is it something that is beyond fixing? You know that is what makes the quality of life an issue,” said Katrina Coleman, a vet tech at Lifeline Animal Project.
It’s relatively common to spot coyotes wandering around the metro-Atlanta area, but it’s rare to see so many running together, according to the Atlanta Coyote Project.
“This is extremely unusual behavior for coyotes, and we suspect that there might be extenuating circumstances,” said Chris Mowry, a professor of biology at Berry College.
Mowry, who works with the Atlanta Coyote Project to study the behavior of coyotes in the metro, says coyotes live in small family groups and they are rarely aggressive.
“In this particular situation, the only thing that makes sense is if there was a large litter this year and the pups hadn’t yet dispersed,” he said. “This could potentially make sense if there are lots of resources available, which sounds like it might be the case in this area of Decatur.
Casper isn’t out of the woods yet. The healing process will likely take several more months. Lifeline is donating their care, which would have cost Weirville upwards of $15,000.
I believe a coyote snatched one of my free ranging chickens. We have also lost a couple of cats over the last several years. One day, about 6 months ago, one was bold enough to trot right through my front yard while I was sitting on the porch.
Brew,not sure why you got negged(fags usually sleep late!),that said,birds of prey and fisher cats our biggest poultry killer if not set up well though sure a coy given a opportunity would take a fowl.
James, I get negged on every one of my posts. Obviously, somewhere along the line I pissed on someone’s cornflakes.
Me too.
I’m glad I passed off my downvoter as I get to enjoy the free rent in their head.
Two downvotes for brewer55? Time for the dog and baby meme!
Fisher cats? Aren’t they from SE Asia? I read one broke out of its cage to go kill a leopard at a zoo once.
Ken,quick look at the fisher,north american: https://www.livescience.com/fisher-cats.html
They are tough little dudes!
That’s why I have a box of Hornady #4 Buck at the front door.
Harrington,buck shot seems a bit stiff for a negger but can understand your feelings.
As for the negger,not sure what to say!
Wait for it…………….
Oh yah!
Tis in the mid 50’s today and so working on Warchild,will be back at lunch to handle neggers!
LOL…thanks for the chuckle!
Bravery and courage, at great physical risk, to eliminate large numbers of predators.
More humans should heed the lesson Go and Do likewise.
There’s a few parallels currently going on in our world, if you think about it.
Good post, FM…
Great to see you back these last few weeks.
I thought it was a nice real life metaphor for how the world should be.
Yes. Reminded me of this meme….
My great-grandfather was a sheep herder in Emilia Romagna in central Italy. He and his family emigrated to the U S at the turn of the 20th century where he continued to raise sheep. He had a sheepdog he spoke Italian to that my dad said understood every word. One day some prick shot the dog through his torso. My great-grandfather put the dog in bed with him for 2 days talking to him and caressing him until he died. Like “Mr. Bogangles” he grieved for the rest of his life.
Get well and bless you, Casper.
Anyone who has owned a Pyr knows they don’t want to fight. They bark…a lot. This is to notify possible intruders to stay away. It’s kind of a “Don’t make me fight you. You will be sorry.” Warning. But bring young kids around and the dog will let them sit on them.
They are wonderful dogs but hell to try to brush burrs and sticktights out of.
Interesting MC.
I bet our resident Ghost can weigh in on that topic, from MO.
What say you, Grooch?
Hey Lager!
What are you up to these days? Still have that all album you sent hanging on the wall.. and been meaning to return a trinket of some sort your way.
I should get back to posting moar… as for the Pyr they are great dogs! My son has one and it is a gentle giant for sure… Saying hello to MC and Ghost, if she sees this as well!
As for the type of story above it would make a good bit for this channel, there is a need for feel good stories.
A few years ago the wife and I built a ‘chicken trailer’. It was one of those chicken runs on wheels. The idea was to move it around to locations you wanted to fertilize. Anyway, it was more of a pain in the arse than how it worked so, I decided to sell it. A local veterinarian, on a good piece of acreage, wanted it. When I brought it to her she had 2 Pyrenees running around, both less than a year old. I was petting one of them when she approached me about a barter trade for the chicken trailer. I almost did it but, I didn’t and I kick myself today for not doing so.
Rinsyyyyy!
Man, it’s great to hear from you 1 on 1. I tried emailing you recently but it bounced back as undeliverable. Was just some funnies; nothing important.
Ah, I’m glad the Odin caricature still graces the spot above the bar in the men den you set up. Don’t return the gesture, dude. The shipping fee from you to me is ridiculously expensive. My gift to you, brudder.
Glad you enjoy it.
Lately, I’ve been rehabbing, from total hip joint replacement surgery, but it’s gone very well. Nice to be able to move again without dull aches, sharp pains in the hipper from severe arthritis and bone spurs.
It’s been an amazing journey. Amazing technology & skills nowadays.
Other than that, just hangin’ out in my hometown trying to stay active with improvements around the house, and stay ahead of the inflation curve on expenses, without going broke in the process.
Looking forward to Spring to get outside way more and find pleasurable things to enjoy.
The holidays were great. Probably the best ones of my life this season.
We have one more football game here in the states, then I’m hoping the majors will start broadcasting NHL games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons so I can catch them in Hi Def.
I can get low definition broadcasts of CBC on Saturday nights, even if I rarely see my team as they struggle to gain their former prowess.
Beyond Sat. night hockey, no offense, but CBC sucks much like your Prime Minister cupcake. Yet, I shouldn’t be throwin’ stones from outside of my glass house. We have NPR, and all the others besides Sleepy leading us to the brink of Armageddon. Sigh………
Capture the finer moments in life, right? Who knows how many more we have left.
Hope all is well up in Scotia for you and the Mrs, fren.
I still have on my bucket list a visit, to your waterside beach for a lobster boil, with a few cold longnecks, so we can toast to common ground.
Stay healthy and well, Rob.
Good to hear from ya Sir… As for the gift maybe I’ll sneak across the border someday. My wife has a good friend who lives near or about Wayne State University. One never knows, I have never been to the Great State of Michigan.
Word is that soon ol’ Potato Brain Joe is going to open the border so that this dirty heathen can raid south once again. As for the bucket list idea, yeah man, do drop by. House is almost done and soon my front porch will be a view of Northumberland Strait. The view is epic, just epic….
This enterprise of building a new abode has been an ordeal. It has been one of delay after delay caused by COVID compounded with economic problems related to finding people to do the work courtesy of the Turdeau led Liberal party of Canuckistan…
The Mrs. and I are doing great. Not really much to complain about of late. Probably why this heathen is MIA here on the TBP most days. The rage that was once there is now just a dull roar. Still getting the ducks in line and got plenty of popcorn ready for the next phase of this fourth turning shitshow.. It’s all good!
That email account you noted in blurb is no longer used by me…
I do have a new one.. drop me a line when you get a chance..
[email protected]
Slainte
RiNS…
Just an FYI. We picked up a rescue dog from a shelter just across the line from us in Oroville WA. Got to the US border, zero vehicles and drove up to the window. Guys asks where we were going. Told’m the shelter. Looked at the passports, handed them back and said see ya.
On the way back, which is usually where the real asswipes are, had pretty much the same thing. Except, oh you got a dog, shes pretty. Ok, cya
That was in November. Since then I’ve heard of more than a few going across with no issues. Especially going down, if you say to spend a little cash moneys they are happy to wave you thru. On the way back, tell’m to go stuff themselves with DDD’s if they harass you, and they usually do.
Good to know that Brian… I’m hoping that if Scrabble does another BBQ I might be able to go.
RiNS, if you EVER visit by Wayne State to see your wife’s friend, be sure and LMK, man. That’s too prime of an opportunity to connect for a pint or two somewhere down by the university.
There’s plenty of fine pubs and restaurants to meet up at. The RiverWalk is very safe and appealing, especially on sunny Spring / Summer mornings, gazing across it at Windsor.
I’ll ping you via email to exchange other contact avenues.
I second your comment to Brian. If border thugs have relaxed a lot, on both sides, I might entertain a return visit to Ontario. Used to annually take a trip up to the bottom of the Georgian Bay to hit the slopes in Collingwood.
I miss those days at Blue.
About 2 kliks from WSU, you have the tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge as avenues, and the new Gordie Howe International bridge construction has been ongoing for the better part of 2 years, making ginormous strides.
Soon there will be three routes to take.
Speaking of Blue Mtn., here’s another Canadian Blue that I like, particularly this tune by Rodeo.
Talk soon off platform, amigo.
Agreed. Helps to balance out the doom porn.
And hello to you, Rins. I’m glad you check in now and then.
Our guy this summer at the cottage after a tough morning of keeping the gang of mallards at the dock off the lawn… and yeah. They can bark. A lot. Loudly.
Nice view.
See that furry tail? It’s a magnent for burrs and sticktights. My dog won’t even let me brush them out. He doesn’t growl or snap. He just runs away. Takes two of us. One to hold him while the other one gets them out.
I’ve given up on the tail. Nature seems to sort it out on its own.
Our girl has rung my ears, barking too close to me.
Same. My whole head hurt when she let out the “serious” bark in the hall going outside.
Our our came in one night covered in those sharp, velcro like sticker burrs. We pulled off over 100. Between her toes, behind ears, tail one gordian knot. She sat patiently and let us help her. I have had to give her pills for tick fever, twice. I open up her mouth, stick the pill in the back of her throat and tell her to swallow. She does. I put my whole hand in her mouth, never bit me once. Husband tried the old “coat the pill with peanut butter”. Never worked and now the dog won’t eat her peanut butter…lol. She is about a year old on Christmas.
Freedom, with your tag name and the story you just told, I’d encourage you to comment more often. Doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie to the platform, or a veteran long time lurker, just reading.
Stick around, and chime in. Some fresh opinions and experiences make for a variety on these threads.
I am surprised the coyotes did not go away.
Here in the northeast with coy-wolves we have has issues but usually they move on to easier prey,they would listen to the bark/warning and move on.
That said,one of me dogs saw on lawn sitting in sun with 2 coys,was amazed,all 3 just snoozing in sun and let it be but kept a eye out,Buck was one large shepard and as he seemed calm felt just a rare moment in nature.!
I had three great Pyrenees show up at my place a few years back and they chased the chickens and tore them up and even killing a few. I probably lost more birds that day to the dogs than I have to coyote in a decade.
They are sheep dogs, they have to be trained to chickens.
Ours are chicken trained. The chickens can walk right by them and they just lay there. But if a hawk decides to try to hang out Jake goes nuts. And a coyote can walk by in the far field (about a 100 yds away) and same thing. Dogs have a fit.
Now ours are half yellow lab and half Pyr. They are brothers from the same litter. Jake looks like a lab and Ellwood looks like a Pyr. They have opposite personalities, too.
Our last full Pyr had to be put down after he came down with some kind of illness that kept him from absorbing the nutrition in his food. We tried everything and the vet sent blood to the Vet school at K-State and to one in TX. No one could explain it.
If you have any training tips, we are getting chicks in a few weeks and are going to need to train our girl to them. She goes nuts after all the raptors and we have a lot of them, especially turkey buzzards.
I am sorry about your last one, that is terrible.
I can’t trust her with the goats yet, but we have had them less than a week and she is just over a year.
Mine doesn’t like birds. He chases the crows.
Great with other dogs and four legged creatures. Certain people piss him off. Not sure why.
The Watchdog protecting the sheep…this metaphor writes itself.
The Barclay Downs Neighborhood in Charlotte had a coyote problem 10 or so years ago. A friend decided to do something about it. Game cam & night vision googles, baited woods behind his yard.
Mr Crossbow did the deed. He moved the carcass & removed the arrow and cam.
No ‘mo problem.
These knuckleheads need to get Casper a friend or two.