Casper the friendly ghost

Dear Reader, as Christmas approaches I find myself watching A Christmas Carol, the classic story of Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas. The ghosts reminded me of Casper the friendly ghost and a story I read recently about a white hero dog named Casper.

Casper is a 21-month-old Great Pyrenees who weighs just 85 pounds. He gained fame because he protected a herd of sheep from a pack of 11 coyotes. As the coyotes began to close in on the sheep, the other guard dogs moved them to a more remote location.

Without hesitating, Casper jumped the fence and attacked the coyotes eventually killing eight of them and chasing the rest away. He was badly hurt but is on the mend and recovering. A bonus is that his mate Daisy is soon having puppies. It will be a happy conclusion for our hero!

Great Pyrenees have been around a long time. They likely arrived in the Pyrenean Mountains with their shepherds around the year 3,000 B.C. Experts think the breed probably evolved from white mountain dogs in Asia Minor as long as 11,000 years ago.

Bred to be guard dogs for farmers, they protected the flock from predators like wolves and bears. The Great Pyrenees is not just a guard dog he is a guardian. He protects the members of his flock with caring and nurturing. They are instinctive kind and patient.

One little known fact is they are nocturnal by nature. Bred to guard flocks at night while shepherds were sleeping, they are on alert during the night. Constantly aware if there are predators they often bark at night, deterring danger.

They have also had a brush with royalty and fame. The French were so smitten with them that King Louis XIV’s royal court declared them the Royal Dog of France. Since arriving in the United States, the Great Pyrenees has become a favorite.

Hooray for Casper, the protecting ghost.

LOOKING FOR A HOME

We have eight adorable puppies. There are four girls and four boys.

We also have eight fluffy kittens ages four to seven months. There are five boys and three girls in a rainbow of colors. All our babies need foster homes. Call 775-7500 for details.

IN NEED OF

Volunteers for Walmart Days in 2023. This is one day a month 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Call 775-7500 for details.

Folks, to sign up for Free money for CAPS with the AmazonSmile Program details following.

Fancy Feast kitten wet food.

Cat litter (clump) for our guests’ comfort.

Aluminum cans. We will pick up your cans; give us a call at 775-423-7500. You can also drop them off at CAPS.

SHOUT OUT TO

All the folks who dropped off supplies and donations. You are our Santa.

The Lahontan Valley News for giving us a voice in the community. Pooch smooches to you.

COME SEE US

CAPS is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We suggest appointments for adoptions and food pantry.

DON’T FORGET

December Holiday: Christmas Day with your pet is Dec. 25.

Register in the AmazonSmile program, a website operated by Amazon. Customers enjoy the same selection of products, low prices, and shopping features as on Amazon.com. The only difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organization selected by you.

If you would like a newsletter, call 775-423-7500 or email caps@cccom.net.

CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. CAPS’ email address is caps@cccomm.net. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnevada.com) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are likeable.

Over the Rainbow: If you would like your pet remembered send his/her name and a short description to Kathleen Williams-Miller a CAPS volunteer, at jkwmil@outlook.com.