Valerie the Lost Dachshund Found Safe After 529 Days In the Wilds of Kangaroo Island

Over 529 days ago, a small miniature Dachshund named Valerie ran away while on vacation with her family on Kangaroo Island, Australia. Now, after an emotional roller coaster and a long effort to locate and catch her, Valerie is finally heading home.

“It’s been a wild ride,” said Georgia Gardner, Valerie’s mom. “For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope. Sometimes good things happen to good people.”

Valerie first went missing in November 2023 when Georgia and her partner Josh Fishlock were vacationing on the island. They searched for days and held out hope for a long time but eventually it was assumed Valerie may have died. Then, in March 2025, there began to be random sightings of the tiny dog around 15 kilometres from where she originally went missing.

That’s when Kangala Wildlife Rescue – a group of volunteers who normally help wildlife on the island – dedicated themselves to finding her, spending over 1,000 hours on the road trying to track her down. Though there were occasional sightings, Valerie was in “survival mode” running away “at the first sign of humans or vehicles” and often stayed deep in remote areas where it was difficult for rescuers to reach her.

Kangaroo Island, located southwest of Adelaide, is known for its protected nature reserves and abundant wildlife, including sea lions, koalas, and diverse bird species. The rugged terrain and presence of other animals made it even harder to trap Valerie — any bait left out could easily attract the island’s native wildlife instead.

Last month, the rescue group had a breakthrough. They set up an elaborate cage filled with pet bedding, food, and familiar items like Valerie’s toys and one of Georgia’s T-shirts with her scent. Because Valerie was so small (only 4 kilos), she couldn’t trigger a standard trap, so the team installed a remote sensor and locking device.

It was the scent of her toys and her mom’s shirt that finally drew her in. Kangala Wildlife Rescue said they kept putting strips of Georgia’s T-shirt out and watched on camera as Valerie began mentally shifting gears as she began to remember her old life.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue shared their joy on social media: “Hi everyone, Kangala Wildlife Rescue would like to express our deep gratitude for all the love and support we have experienced through this journey. It has meant the world to us. We are relieved and overjoyed that Valerie is now safe and sound and can be reunited with her family.”

The rescuers explained in detail how they finally caught Valerie and how their concerns for her mental health led to their careful approach in the video below.

Valerie will remain on Kangaroo Island for the next week as her family travels down to be reunited with her.