After an extraordinary 529 days in the wilderness, a miniature dachshund named Valerie has been rescued on Kangaroo Island, Australia. The eight-pound dog, who went missing during a family camping trip, defied the odds and survived in one of the country’s most unforgiving environments.
Valerie’s saga began in November 2023 when she was just a 1-year-old pup vacationing with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, on Kangaroo Island. While they were fishing, Valerie escaped from her playpen and ran into the wild. Despite the couple’s extensive search efforts, they were unable to find her, and they eventually returned home to Broken Hill, New South Wales, fearing the worst for their pet.
Months passed with no sign of Valerie, until a year later when locals spotted a small dachshund with a pink collar near Stokes Bay, about nine miles from where she had vanished. Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a local nonprofit, immediately sprang into action to track and capture the elusive dog.
Rescuers set up trail cameras and baited the area with food, but Valerie proved to be a tough catch. The team used a combination of clever tactics, including creating a scent trail from a shirt Gardner had worn and setting up a specially designed trap pen. Despite regular visits from Valerie, it took months before the right moment arrived to safely capture her.
The breakthrough came in mid-April when the volunteers, armed with patience and calm, managed to coax Valerie into the pen. The team, who wore Gardner’s shirt and avoided direct eye contact, spent hours sitting quietly near the pen until Valerie felt comfortable enough to approach them. “She came up, sniffed us, and slowly calmed down. Eventually, she snuggled up in our laps,” said Lisa Karran, a director at Kangala Wildlife Rescue.
Valerie is now recovering from her harrowing adventure. Experts believe she likely survived on a diet of roadkill and dam water, managing to avoid the island’s dangers, including venomous snakes and predatory birds like wedge-tailed eagles. Rescuers faced additional challenges in capturing Valerie due to the numerous other animals on the island, including wallabies, goannas, and feral cats, which competed for the same food sources.
Kangala Wildlife Rescue’s team spent over 1,000 hours and traveled approximately 3,100 miles in their mission to rescue Valerie. With the dog finally safe, the organization is now allowing her some time to decompress, as she may be experiencing “lost dog syndrome,” a temporary stress condition common in dogs who have been separated from their families for long periods.
Valerie’s owners are expected to reunite with their dog in the coming days. Gardner expressed her profound gratitude for the rescue team’s dedication. “For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid, and never give up hope,” she shared on social media. “Sometimes good things happen to good people.”