Sheep dog wins People’s Choice Award for sustaining injuries fighting off coyote pack

DECATUR, Ga. (WANF/Gray News) - A Great Pyrenees in Georgia who was badly injured while fighting off coyotes to protect his owner’s sheep won the People’s Choice Pup award in a national pet contest.

The 3-year-old Great Pyrenees, named Casper, spent three weeks at the vet and months at his home in Decatur recovering from his injuries. A year later, Casper is fully healed and thriving.

The dog’s owner, John Wierwille, said he knew Casper deserved the award, but was still surprised when he won.

“It’s nice that he was nominated but since we don’t do a whole lot of social media, I didn’t expect him to win,” Wierwille said.

The American Farm Bureau Federation presented Casper with the People’s Choice Pup award.

The organization said more than 100,000 people voted online, with Casper receiving the most votes.

The trophy comes with a $1,000 cash prize, which is being donated to the Atlanta-based LifeLine Animal Project at the request of Wierwille, which is where Casper spent several weeks recovering from his injuries.

“There are lots of deserving dogs. It was an honor for him to just be nominated,” Wierwille said.

Casper beat out four other dogs to win the People’s Choice Pup award.