Valerie the dachshund, who survived 529 days alone in the Australian wilderness has finally been captured – alive and well – and is set for a heartwarming reunion with her owners.
Valerie ran away from her owners’ campsite on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, in November 2023 and has defied the odds by living off the land and showing amazing survival instincts.
While few expected her to survive long after her owners’ week-long search was fruitless, a series of sightings and the sound of her bark kept faint hopes alive.
Her incredible survival story made headlines around the world, with even the New York Times drawn in with the story: ‘Dachshund Lost on Australian Island Is Still Alive, but Elusive.’
Well, she is elusive no more.
The determined team at Kangala Wildlife Rescue announced on Friday night that they had finally got their hands on the hardy hound.
‘Kangala Wildlife Rescue is overjoyed to announce the successful rescue of Valerie, the miniature dachshund who went missing on Kangaroo Island 529 days ago,’ the rescue team wrote on Facebook.
‘After weeks of tireless efforts by Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers and partner organisations, Valerie has been safely rescued and is fit and well.
Missing dog Valerie was caught on camera recently
Valerie was caught on camera in a post shared on April 3
‘We are absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe and able to begin her transition back to her loving parents Josh and Georgia.’
Kangala Wildlife Rescue said they had travelled 5,000km searching for the dachshund.
The team used traps, treats and scent reminders of Valerie’s home – sent by her interstate owners – to nab the pup, along with cameras.
They set up a caged area with her bedding from home and dog food, but she was wary enough to always come and go quickly, with fleeting images captured on CCTV as she frustratingly remained out of their grasp.
However Friday proved the fateful day, and now all that is left is a reunion with her owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock.
The couple had delayed the end of their holiday as they searched frantically for Valerie for a week before grudgingly leaving Kangaroo Island, which is divided between farmland and untouched nature reserves.
They told The Advertiser in March how much they struggled when they found she had gone missing.
‘I remember on the first day I was just covered in tears. We barely ate anything,’ Ms Gardner said.
Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock were fishing whne Valerie went missing
Valerie’s story has been followed around Australia and the world
‘My whole world just crumbled,’ Ms Gardner said. ‘When we left the island without her, I cried for days.’
A year after Valerie went missing, Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock were shocked to hear reports that their little dog had been seen running through farmland.
Now the seemingly impossible has happened and an emotional reunion beckons – one that will delight not just the owners, but the many thousands of people from around the world who followed Valerie’s extraordinary survival story.
‘I’ve been following this story from Perth and now on holidays in Japan and been following the updates. I’m so excited to see Valerie has been caught,’ one person wrote in comments on Kangala’s Facebook page.
‘I am bawling right now! But nothing but happy tears!!! I am so relieved this lil girl is safe now and going home! I have been praying so hard for Valerie and today mine and many others prayers were answered!’ another added.
‘This outcome has made me teary eyed…with joy. What a sweet reunion ahead. Praying she transitions easily. Dachshunds are amazing dogs! Congratulations from Tennessee!’ an international fan said.
