Valerie the Mini Dachshund: A Year-Long Survival Saga on a Remote Australian Island

Valerie, a miniature dachshund who has been missing for nearly a year and a half on a remote island in southern Australia, has finally been spotted in the wild. Rescue workers and local residents are optimistic that they are close to capturing the elusive pup.

Jared Karen, a staff member of Kangala Wildlife Rescue, shared the breakthrough, saying, "Fantastic news off the bat. We have seen her, and we’ve narrowed down the search area to one specific point where we’ve got cameras in place." He added that Valerie appears healthy and that the rescue team is working step by step to make her feel comfortable enough for capture.

Valerie's owner, Georgia Gardner, described her as far from a survivalist, calling her a "princess" who prefers car seats and pink outfits. "It's absolutely unbelievable that she has survived a year and a half out there in the wild, honestly," Gardner said. She suspects Valerie has been surviving off roadkill and drinking water from dams.

The ordeal began on November 13, 2023, when Valerie went missing during a camping trip to Kangaroo Island. Gardner and her partner, Joshua Fishlock, had briefly left Valerie in her pen at their campsite while they went fishing nearby. Valerie, unhappy about being left alone, escaped and was inadvertently chased into the bushland by well-meaning fellow campers.

The couple spent five harrowing days searching for her in the rain, barely eating or sleeping, before they had to leave the island to return to their jobs. Gardner recalled the heartbreak of leaving, saying, "I remember leaving one of her little toys and some of our clothes where we'd last seen her. As we were on the ferry, I remember looking back on the island and just crying."

Over the months, sporadic reports of Valerie sightings kept hope alive. On February 28, a new sighting was posted on a local Facebook page, prompting Kangala Wildlife Rescue to step in once again. Cameras and traps have now been set up to safely bring Valerie home.

Gardner expressed gratitude for the rescue team's dedication, noting that Valerie has been spotted frequently on the cameras. "It's very unlikely that there's any other sausage dog that's missing on the island in that area. So that's why we're fairly certain it's her," she said.

If Valerie is caught, Gardner and Fishlock plan to retrieve her immediately. Donations for the rescue effort can be made at kangalawildliferescue.com.