After vanishing for over a year in the rugged wilderness of Kangaroo Island, a miniature dachshund named Valerie has finally been found — alive, well, and wagging.
The beloved "sausage dog" went missing in November 2023 during a camping trip with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. While they briefly left their campsite to fish, Valerie slipped away into the wild. Despite an extensive search involving locals and days of effort, she seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
But 529 days later, Valerie’s incredible survival story has captivated hearts across Australia and beyond.
Kangala Wildlife Rescue, the nonprofit that led the operation, announced her capture late Friday, calling it a “deep relief.” Volunteers spent over 1,000 hours, traveled more than 3,000 miles, and battled the elements and local wildlife to bring her home. Their approach combined persistence with creativity — laying scent trails using Valerie’s toys and torn-up pieces of her owner's worn shirts.
Eventually, she was lured into a trap set with these familiar scents. “She went right into the back corner,” said Kangala co-director Jared Karran. With one press of a button, the crate door dropped. Valerie was finally secure.
Kangala’s Lisa Karran, wearing the very shirt used to lure the pup, gently approached the cage to begin building trust. The rescuers took turns entering slowly. “She came up, would sniff us… until she was completely calm and snuggled up in our laps,” Lisa said. “It was amazing.”
Valerie is now decompressing and will be reunited with her owners within the next week. Gardner, overwhelmed with gratitude, posted: “For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope. Sometimes good things happen to good people.”
The team at Kangala had faced steep challenges. Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third-largest island, is home to snakes, spiders, feral cats, and over 30 threatened species. Valerie not only evaded predators but avoided humans and vehicles, making capture near impossible. “We were constantly competing with hundreds of wildlife — possums, wallabies, kangaroos, goannas,” said the group.
Once presumed dead, Valerie defied all odds — a pint-sized survivor navigating one of Australia’s most diverse and unforgiving ecosystems.
In a region better known for its nature tourism — now topping a record $180 million annually — Valerie’s return has become a symbol of hope, resilience, and the powerful bond between pets and people.
Credit By: nbcnews
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