While his owners scrambled to save the smaller dog, Ronnie jumped between the coyote and the family. The coyote bit Ronnie, who bit him back, and then charged at the intruder. The coyote jumped back over the fence and ran away.
Ronnie's owner was surprised by her pet's behavior. "Ronnie has always been extremely timid," Janis Christensen said. "But he knew what to do what he was confronted by the coyote."
Ronnie and his owners received a plaque, a year's supply of dog food, and a weekend getaway at Hotel Maya in Long Beach.
City News Service contributed to this story.
