Runaway Dog Found After 529 Days on Wildlife-Filled Australian Island

 Valerie the Runaway Dachshund Found After 529 Days in the Australian Wilderness

After more than 500 days lost in the wild, Valerie the miniature dachshund has finally been found — safe, sound, and sporting her signature pink collar.

Valerie vanished in November 2023 while camping with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, on Kangaroo Island — a rugged expanse off southern Australia known for its kangaroos, koalas, penguins, and possums. The tiny pup darted from her pen into the bush, sparking a desperate search that soon seemed hopeless.

For over a year, the island — which spans more than 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles) — yielded only faint signs of her: blurry glimpses from night-vision cameras and unconfirmed sightings by locals. But against all odds, the resilient little dog survived, evading predators, harsh weather, and even traps.

The breakthrough came after Kangala Wildlife Rescue — a volunteer-led group — spent months pursuing Valerie with cameras, traps, and over 1,000 hours of tracking effort, covering more than 3,100 miles. Despite her wariness of humans and vehicles, Valerie was eventually lured into a crate using the scent of a torn-up shirt worn by her owner.

“She went right to the back corner, which is where we wanted her,” said Kangala co-director Jared Karran, who remotely triggered the trap door. “It all worked perfectly.”

To calm her, co-director Lisa Karran climbed into the crate from the top, avoiding the risk of another escape. “No way we were letting that sausage dog run away on us again,” Jared joked.

Valerie was welcomed back with a feast of dog food and her favorite treat — roast chicken. Volunteers and her owners marveled at her tiny frame, noting how much bigger she looked in the surveillance footage. “She’s got, like, an inch clearance under her belly, tiny little legs,” said Jared.

According to the American Kennel Club, dachshunds are fearless, independent, and famously stubborn — traits that likely helped Valerie endure her extraordinary adventure.

“For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope,” Gardner shared in a social media post, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers.

As Valerie begins her new chapter back home, her incredible survival story stands as a testament to resilience, community, and the unbreakable bond between people and their pets.

Missing sausage dog Valerie found after 529 days at large | 9 News Australia