Valerie the Miniature Dachshund Rescued After 529 Days on a Remote Australian Island

Photo credit: www.smithsonianmag.com

The eight-pound pup is now decompressing after her epic adventure in the wilderness, a feat rescuers say was “just incredible”

April 28, 2025 4:58 p.m.

After an astonishing 529 days of wandering, Valerie the dachshund has returned to safety. The eight-pound canine captivated audiences globally when her story emerged, detailing how she managed to survive alone on the rugged landscape of Kangaroo Island, off South Australia’s coast, following her disappearance during a family camping trip.

Reportedly, Valerie was captured thanks to the ingenuity of her rescuers. Kangala Wildlife Rescue reported on social media that the dog is “fit and well” after her remarkable journey. “We are thrilled and relieved that Valerie is finally safe and ready to be reunited with her loving parents,” the organization stated.

This adventure began in November 2023, when Valerie, just one year old, was enjoying a camping trip with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. The family was camping on the expansive Kangaroo Island when, on the second day of their trip, the couple left Valerie in a playpen to fish. During their absence, she managed to escape into the wild.

Desperate, Gardner and Fishlock searched for days but had to return to their home in Broken Hill, New South Wales, with heavy hearts. They held little hope for their beloved pet—described affectionately by Gardner as an “absolute princess”—to survive in such a harsh environment filled with snakes and other dangers.

However, about a year later, island residents spotted a dachshund wearing a pink collar near Stokes Bay, approximately nine miles from where Valerie had vanished. Volunteers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue took action, employing strategies to finally catch the elusive dog. They set up trail cameras and baited traps with enticing foods like chicken and tuna.

Despite these efforts, capturing Valerie proved difficult. The rescue team created a trap pen equipped with a remotely operated door, stocked with food and old toys to make it feel familiar. They even devised a scent trail using pieces of a t-shirt Gardner had worn, hoping to lead Valerie back to the trap.

By mid-April, Valerie started frequenting the pen, though her visits were irregular, complicating rescue efforts. Volunteers camped nearby, waiting patiently, as they needed the right moment to activate the pen’s door without alarming her.

Lisa Karran, a director at Kangala, utilized a piece of Gardner’s t-shirt to appear less threatening as she approached the pen alongside the team. They offered roast chicken and Valerie’s dog food to reassure her. “The idea is just to sit,” Karran explained in a video. “Don’t make direct eye contact. Wait patiently.”

Fortunately, Valerie soon grew comfortable and came close enough for volunteers to gently coax her into their laps. “It was amazing to see her relax,” Karran remarked in the video.

Currently, Valerie is given time to adjust after her arduous experience. Experts suggest she may be dealing with “lost dog syndrome,” a condition characterized by stress and disorientation that pets sometimes face after extended periods of solitude. This may explain why she wouldn’t have responded to her owners’ calls if they had been present.

Gardner and Fishlock plan to reunite with Valerie in about a week, excited to bring their beloved pet home.