The struggle continued for around half an hour.
When it was over, eight of the 11 coyotes were dead.
Most importantly, the sheep had survived.
Then Casper Disappeared
There was no immediate celebration.
Casper was gone.
The same dog who had just protected the flock had disappeared beyond the property during the confrontation.
Wierwille and others searched for him.
Hours passed without any sign.
Then a full day.
Then another.
Given the intensity of the fight, Wierwille had reason to fear the worst.
Some later retellings of Casper’s story claim that he spent those two days deliberately hunting the three surviving coyotes.
That makes for dramatic storytelling, but the available evidence does not establish what Casper was actually doing while he was missing.
What is known is that after approximately two days, Casper returned.
And his condition made clear how much the battle had cost him.
The Guardian Comes Home
Casper finally emerged on the morning of November 6.
The sight was horrifying.
His tail was severely injured.
His ears had been torn.
His body contained deep wounds and large areas where skin had been ripped away.
Wierwille rushed him to veterinary care.
The situation was critical enough that veterinarians discussed whether continued treatment was realistic.
Casper's injuries would eventually require extensive care.
According to reporting by The Washington Post, LifeLine Animal Project helped raise approximately $15,000 to cover Casper’s medical treatment. His care included addressing deep puncture wounds, repairing areas of torn skin and ultimately dealing with the severe damage to his tail.
His tail could not be saved.
Georgia Farm Bureau later reported that part of the tail had been injured during the fight and that infection eventually led veterinarians to dock it.
It became one of the permanent physical reminders of the night Casper protected his flock.
But Casper was alive.
And despite the seriousness of his wounds, the dog apparently remained unmistakably himself.
LifeLine Veterinary Technician Katrina Coleman later recalled to Georgia Farm Bureau that Casper arrived with a massive wound but remained in good spirits.
His recovery would require much more than a few stitches and a trip home.
A Long Recovery
Casper spent weeks receiving professional veterinary care.
Georgia Farm Bureau reported that he received approximately 30 days of care through LifeLine following his initial emergency treatment.
WABE later reported that Casper spent about 17 days at an emergency veterinary clinic and roughly another two weeks at LifeLine Animal Project.
His recovery became a community effort.
As Casper’s story spread through local and national media, people donated money toward his treatment.
Around $15,000 was raised.
The support ultimately exceeded what was required for Casper’s medical bills, according to Georgia Farm Bureau, allowing LifeLine to use additional donations to help other animals.
Casper had scars that would remain even after the wounds closed.
There was an area on his back where fur did not fully return.
One ear bore evidence of the fight.
And his long Great Pyrenees tail was gone.
Yet the dog survived injuries that had initially made his future uncertain.
Even his missing tail became part of Casper’s personality.
Wierwille joked that without it, Casper simply moved more of his body when he was excited.
He had survived.
The sheep had survived.
Daisy had survived.